Of Pipedreams and Chocolates

Forrest Gump’s momma always said that life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.

Yup! I do agree with Mrs. Gump that life is really a box of chocolates. You never know what’s in store until you open it up. My life has been a bittersweet delicacy. It had its up and downs but I’d never be where I am today without every challenge I had to overcome.

Seeing my dad and my loved ones taken away from me before my eyes had snapped me out of a lot of sweet dreams and happily-ever-afters and silent reveries. Years had already passed and I still have to mull over what may have been and if only I had done the right thing. One of the things my dad’s death taught me was that we only live once -  to do those things our body and our soul cry out for us to do. Life is just a fleeting enchantment of pipedreams and is not to be squandered. I had to get on with my life and live it to the fullest. In other words, I think that often times it takes a tragic event or sad circumstance for us to stop and really appreciate what and whom we have in our lives. It's not every day that we take the time to be thankful for the very pieces that hold us together, that being the people closest to us.  After all, they’re worth more than our material things and our money.

But I always wondered if only my dad hadn’t passed away leaving a lot of untended things he’d love to do if he hadn’t met his Maker. But growing up with the Lord in my heart, mind and soul obliterated all those thoughts from my wondering mind. Living in God’s grace taught me that my dad’s death was a blessing in a way – Mrs. Gump called it a part of life but I wish it wasn’t. He would have deeply suffered battling the Big C if the Lord had not taken him away from us. But that’s a story for another day.

Today’s story is about how inspired I am by the things that come randomly to mind that I had to make a list, check it twice and cross out the things I’ve already done or experienced.

‘What’ and ‘if’ are two very different words but when put together would entail more than their separate meanings. What if? What if? What if my dad hadn’t died? What if he was still here with us? What if there’s more to life than just a box of chocolates? What if I go out on a limb and step out of the box? What if? What if? But as ‘what’ and ‘if’ could mean a lot more than their separate meanings, there is also more to ‘if’ and ‘only’ when put together. If only… If only dad hadn’t died. If only I had told him, I loved him every day until the day he breathed his last breath. If only I had lived life with a little more freedom. If only I had lived life with a little more love and laughter. If only I had opened that box of chocolates. If only I had taken that urge to go out on a limb and experience the challenging world that box of chocolates could offer. The only difference between ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ is the fact that one gives you more of a chance, the other more of regret.

Now I leave it to you to think about which of the two phrases you’d prefer to use. If you would ask me, I’d prefer to use both. One would ensure my curiosity and inspiration, the other would push me harder to success.

I’ve therefore made a living document out of whatever comes to mind. This is my living legacy to man and nature as well as myself. Having said that, I would like to create legacies that would last beyond lifetimes as well as quench my thirst for adrenaline-induced undertakings. Being spontaneous as I am, I’ve listed down some things I want to do with my life before I leave for the hereafter. It’s just like planning an adventure of life. For what many of you would call a bucket list, I call it my own box of chocolates. For what many of you would call an itemized list of things you always wanted to do before it’s too late, I prefer it to be a delicacy of things that are purposeful, meaningful and reasonably challenging. And a lot of things come to mind for what delicacies my box of chocolates would have.

Yeah. I know some of them are lame but these delicacies in my box of chocolates mean a lot to me and I also know that everything from here on out would be just icing on a cake.

1. Migrate to a country of choice. While most people want to live and visit Paris, I’ve always wanted to experience South Korea. Yes, Paris may be the most romantic city in the world with its urban perfection, greatest boutiques, grand boulevards, and legendary cafes but South Korea to me has a lot of history and mysteries that I want to discover and learn about. With its rich and flourishing culture and history and lots of magical, mystical and amusing places to visit over and over without tiring, Korea would be the perfect place for me to live in.

2. Finish Simbang Gabi. The Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi is practiced in the Philippines every December 16 until December 25 either at 12midnight or 4AM or anytime in the wee hours of the morning, depending on which city or province you are located. St. Mary the Virgin Church in Sagada opens its doors to the public at 5AM for the Misa de Gallo. At the Cathedral in Baguio City, the church is open as early as 12am. I’ve completed only 5 of the 9 days, so far.

3. Make a scrapbook of memories. I’m a packrat of sorts. I’ve lots of stuff stacked up in my room I use for art such as personalized cards and envelopes, scrapbooking, and any artistic ideas that would suddenly pop up in my mind. I’ve finished my scrapbook of memories when I was in elementary but time is at a loss every time I think of updating it. I’ve just started with the new inputs.

4. Build sand castles. I’ve always wanted to experience building sand castles. Real sand castles done by the beach. The only sand castles I’ve ever built were those by our front yard in Danonoy where a pile of sand was dumped for construction of the pathway to the poultry house. That pile sand had been my playground while growing up as well as with my sisters and brother. As we grew up, that pile of sand became less and less, but I never even built a castle on that pile of sand. I’ve built ‘volcanoes’ out of it, that of which was done in a very unsanitary way but was however sooo fun. I’ve also built burrows for my Easter eggs that my sisters could not find. At times, that pile of sand would serve as a hiding place for things I would not want my sisters to take from me. I couldn’t believe that I’m saying this but I really, really miss that pile of sand. I think it was used to pave the front lawn. I was in already in college when I saw the last of it. I’ve been to beaches but I never had the chance to build sand castles as well. Every opportunity was missed as another one opens. Every time I get to build a sand castle, something comes up. I was just left building sand castles in the air.

5. Commune with nature. I love the outdoors so with every chance I get, I go hiking in the mountains nearby our home, sleep on the grass, listen to the sound of the rustling leaves, the sound of crickets (at one time, my adventurous streak kicked in that I went looking around for Jiminy), the chirping birds and the constant moo-moo of the cows nearby (I always hoped I won’t step or sleep on a pile of moo-moo turd or cow pies as they say). Communing with nature is one of my ways of casting all my worries and cares to the wind as it blusters them away from my ailing soul and mind.

6. Wish upon a shooting star. I always believed in fairytales, prince and princesses, mysteries and adventure. Yes. I am a romantic at heart. But hopeless nonetheless. Ever since I knew about shooting stars and wishes coming true when you cast your wishes upon them, I’ve always watched out my window at night for a shooting star. I couldn’t explain the emotions coursing through me when I’ve seen a light one time, blinking, flickering in the distant velvet sky. I just closed my eyes and wished that my father would get well. And then it hit me. I opened my eyes and realized that it was just a plane passing through. I would love to catch a glimpse of a shooting star one day. At times when I couldn’t sleep at night, I just go out on a clear night, look up at the sky, watch the marvelous stars twinkle, while fervently hoping that a shooting star passes through my line of sight.

7. Plant a tree. Our high school had a tree-planting activity years ago, and that’s when I really planted a tree by myself. It was a palm tree. Last time I checked, that palm tree was still standing strong. When we were young, we’ve helped my dad plant trees by the gate so cows (they were our neighbors) wouldn’t invade our yard.

8. Have lots of fun at amusement parks. Hmmm… As a child and up to now, I never had the luxury or even a chance to go to Disneyland or any amusement park for that matter. The only park I went to which really ‘amused’ me was Burnham Park in Baguio City. It may not have the luxury of carousel rides or Ferris wheels but it has this bike-hiring amenity where you could take out bikes for a limited amount of time and roam around the park vicinity. It also has a lake at the very center of the park with boats for hire where you could experience paddling by yourself or at least have someone in the know to teach you how. And my hometown, Sagada has its own share of something that keeps you amused. Who needs an amusement park when in Sagada you could run along the fields and have loads of fun getting yourself stuck in a rice paddy? The very challenge of how to get yourself out of that slushy, gooey mess is an adventure in itself. Amusing, right? Who needs monkey bars and zip lines when in Sagada, one just has to climb trees and swing from one branch to another? Who needs slides and skating rinks when in Sagada, one just has to take a slab of wood, rub candlewax on it and ride it down the road or an incline? Who needs swimming pools or indoor beaches when in Sagada, there’s a lot nature could offer? You could go wash out all the worries and wearies in its majestic falls or brave the freezing waters of the caves. Or if you don’t mind AT ALL, the murky crap-polluted waters of Danum Lake. Who needs roller coaster rides when in Sagada, you just ride in uncle Paddong’s or uncle Pablo’s bus and you’re in for the ride of your life? I know there’s more to Sagada than what I’ve mentioned but well, I must say, it’s really more fun in Sagada.

9. Stand with one foot on either side of a provincial/continental/country boundary. I still have yet to stand with one foot on either side of the boundary arch between Mountain Province and Benguet. I know, I know. Don’t judge me. I just didn’t have that much time in my hands. It was one blasted excuse after another.

10. Meet someone famous and get his/her autograph. I’ve always been an avid fan of Korean celebrities. I would love love love to have Kim Soo Hyeon’s and Seo In Guk’s signature on a frame. Kim Soo Hyeon is my self-proclaimed husband, if there’s ever such a thing. I know there is, ‘coz I just mentioned it. Seo In Guk – I just love how he grew up to be such an amazing actor. I love them and yes, I troll both of them.

11. Cut my own hair. I thought it was weird and crazy to be cutting your own hair but by the time I did it, the feeling was a mixture of relief, sadness, excitement, etc. I never thought cutting my own hair would be an “orgasmic” experience. Well, the excitement and the relief is explanatory. The sadness, well because my hair is an extension of my body. When I get to cut it, it seems there’s a piece of me missing, which physically is true but there’s really much more to the experience than meets the eye. The feelings of relief and excitement outweighed the sadness of having something missing from your life.

12. Skip class or school. A lot of my friends and classmates would answer, ‘Who doesn’t?’. I never did. It was hard enough for me since I didn’t want to let my mother down. She is a teacher and I always thought that if I had to cut class or skip school, then I would be a disappointment to my mother and everyone who is proud of me for what I have achieved. But that was true only for my days in elementary and high school. In college, I’ve skipped out of one class just for the joy of walking out from my angered and misunderstood instructor. Hehe… No worries. After both of us had cooled down, I’ve asked for an apology at the end of the period. Apology accepted with a dimpled smile as a bonus. Huh, was he that cute before? I really was engrossed in my studies. Tsk. Tsk.

13. Have a movie marathon with friends. I have a lot of friends in high school. Four of them, my best of friends. But I never had a chance to go to a movie marathon with them because of the distance of where we live to the town center. It would take 30 minutes to an hour of walking before you reach our home and just as I mentioned earlier, our nearest neighbors are the cows. It sometimes gives me the chills when I think about walking home alone. In college, during our sophomore and junior years in school and after every exhausting examination, my friends and I would stay at a friend’s house for the night and watch movies. At one time, we watched the whole sequels of the movie ‘SAW’. It was fun relaxing with friends more so that when we sometimes had too much alcohol in our blood, we miraculously could speak the English language perfectly well. And we spoke to each other like that until the alcohol wears off. Then we’re back to being wanna-be Westerners. We still were wanna-bes when we were drunk but as high-spirited as we were, we didn’t know that.

14. Kiss foreign land on first step. This had been my promise for like, forever. It has also been an inspiration and a motivation factor for me to do my best and reach high enough to tap my dream. The first time I was able to step on foreign land was in Singapore. I failed this big time. I was so nervous and tired and excited at the same time that my emotions got the better of me. And the first step was not on land particularly, it was on the airport terminal floor.

15. Carve name into a tree. I’ve done this once or twice already. I’ve carved my name on a guava tree beside our house together with my sisters. We always climbed this tree on weekends to try hiding from house chores. Dad and Mom would call from the big house, look for us from place to place. Come to think of it, it was funny enough they never thought of looking up the guava tree. Hehehe… I also miss that guava tree. It was my refuge at times when I needed to be alone. The widespread branches of the chestnut tree nearby helped a great deal to conceal myself and the precious guava tree.

16. Embrace history. I’m not actually one to be called a history buff but I learned to embrace the Igorot culture and how important it was to know one’s roots. At this time, cultural integrity and preservation is a challenge posed by the growing economy and the introduction of modern technology and deeds. My curiosity and quest on how things were and when things started became even more fervent with the advent of the challenges the modern world has posed.

17. Send message on a bottle. I always thought it was romantic and exciting and adventurous to just write a poem or a letter, put it in an airtight bottle and let it float at sea. Unfortunately, I never came close getting an empty bottle to bodies of water so the challenge was futile. I actually remember San Juan Beach in San Fernando, La-Union but I couldn’t find an empty bottle nearby. And even if I had, I didn’t have with me a pen and paper to write on. Neither were leaves or anything I could use as a pad or pen.

18. Make a wish by dropping a coin in a well or fountain, or when crossing bridges. Hmm… ever since I learned about the Guggenheim and the wishing fountain, it’s been my mantra to make a wish in a well or a fountain or bridges any chance I get. I’ve never crossed bridges all my life, unless you count the 3-foot bridge we always used to tread as children when I and my sisters went to blow off some steam at the nearby mountain. The bridge connected the main road and a beat-up path leading towards our favorite mountain. There was an 8-ft drop in-between.

19. Experience a fireworks display. It’s frustrating to know how cool it would be to experience a fireworks display close-hand after I have seen it on television. The New Year celebration would be close enough to seeing mother rockets or lussis or fountains light up the night but it was never enough to assuage my curiosity of how a real fireworks display would feel. I’ve just been a distant observer when came the chance to see the Fireworks display in Baguio City. Would have loved to have seen (and smelled?) it with friends and family.

20. Sleep on a tree house. It wasn’t much of those tree houses you see on TV or anywhere in the world but it still is my very own tree house though I never could sleep on it. It was the guava tree beside our house. I could climb and sit on its big branches or even lie down but never to sleep because I might fall 20 feet down. And I was a little packed in the middle.

21. Bathe, sing, dance in the rain. I’ve been wet by the rain walking home from school but I wasn’t too happy about it. I would love to someday, just out of craziness and budging curiosity, get to bathe, sing and dance in the rain.

22. Make a difference in the world. I always thought being in the medical field and getting that knowledge applied in my hometown and the other poor communities without any kind of compensation would be a start. Making a difference in the world is being that difference. In a good way. Or so I thought. Yeah, it was so cliché. Danger of having a young mind. I might want to think that through though. I don’t really know. I still have that vigor to volunteer my services but I need to do something more than that. Something that could make an impact on people’s lives. Something I still am thinking about.

23. Sleep under the stars. No matter how hard I tried to sleep under the stars, I never could because Sagada is soooo cold at night. I’d freeze myself to death before I get to cross ‘sleep under the stars’ off my list. As children, we could have made it happen if we didn’t lay inside a tent our Dad made for us in the backyard one summer. But we had to run back to the house because we couldn’t sleep. But it wasn’t the biting cold which kept us awake. It was the fear of ghosts and monsters our active imaginations conjured that night. That’s what we get for talking about ghosts and what-nots while warming up our cold toes by the campfire. Dad and mom had a laugh. We didn’t. We were so scared we never dared to talk about ghosts and such for a year or so.

24. Go on a roadtrip with friends. I think it’s inborn – my sense of adventure and spontaneity. I would have loved, loved, loved to quench that monster inside of me but then I was so busy with my studies I dared not go. I feel that now that I’m free, I could do so in the near future.

25. Start my own business. I’ve always wanted to start an internet café or a photocopying business. My second greatest dream however is to start a mall and house my internet café and photocopying business there aside from the other amenities my mall could offer. My first greatest dream is to start a foundation that would cater to anyone in need of help. I’d name it Bravo’s Angels Foundation, Ltd.

26. Perform random acts of kindness every day. I have saved lots of cats and dogs from the cold. I’ve also helped my sisters and classmates with their assignments and schoolwork. I’ve helped an old lady carry her small sack of camote to the jeepney stop. I’ve dropped my 5 peso baon to Red Cross cans passed around. But just being alive to do all these things has given me a reason to live. That’s my purpose.

27. Design and build my own house. I love gazing at houses and taking points regarding the architectural designs. I also love to browse my aunt’s Home and Garden magazine to look for precious designs for houses. During my Junior year in high school, our Technology and Livelihood Education class required us to make floor plans of houses. Our senior year, allowed us to update our floor plans, design our houses using scales, and finally do a perspective of what our dream house would be like. Not to brag about it but I got the highest grade, although some of my measurements were a little off. I have a BS Nursing degree. I might seem to have missed my calling. What would have happened if I pursued design and architecture?

28. Have a car like James Bond’s. Whatever car James bond uses, it’s soooo cool! I’d love to have one of them sitting on my garage one day. Speaking of cars, I’d had the chance of taking a picture of myself and a Lamborghini. Would love to win that car. :D

29. Fall in love. Who wouldn’t? I don’t think there’s a normal person in the world who wouldn’t want to fall in love. It’s a crazy adventure. And when (notice I said ‘when’, not ‘if’) I fall in love, then will I have a chance to go visit the Great Wall of China and put a lock among the padlocks lined by love-locked lovers.

30. Get married and have kids. Okay. A lot of people say that you’ll know when the right man comes. I do hope so.

31. Bake my own wedding cake. This is the most special moment of my life and I want my wedding cake to be perfect as my gift to my soon-to-be husband and the people who’d be attending. That is, if I knew how to bake. Since it’s a special occasion, I would just leave it to the experts. Maybe, I’d still try my best though.

32. Go camping with family. Going camping in the truest sense of the word? No. But it meant a lot to me when my dad pitched up a tent at our backyard, made a bonfire, and we roasted marshmallows and slept in the tent. Nothing in this world would ever beat a family bonding.

33. Write a book. This is one of my frustrations. Every time I start writing one, I’d have another idea in mind and I scrap the one I’m recently on and start over. I have the loose pages tucked somewhere in a forgotten pile of manuscripts and scrap papers. I plan to get them all back one day, compile them and somehow finish what I started. I’ve started writing a short story recently, and I wish I had all those manuscripts I had back then.

34. Eat exotic food. I don’t know how far exotic goes in your dictionary but maybe the most exotic food I have tasted is dog meat. (aaarggh… it was an accident really. I didn’t know it was dog meat. Eh adobo kasi kaya ayun, sunggab agad ang lola mo.) Yes, that’s more exotic to me than eating bugs. Eating dog meat is over the top more outlandish than eating bugs. I don’t get why people get to eat man’s best friends. That’s totally out of the question downright sick to me.

35. Climb a mountain 5 times. This I’ll never tire of. I’d climb the mountain near our house again and again as long as I live. But I want to take it to the next level and climb the next highest mountain – Mount Pulag.

36. Swim with dolphins. Dolphins are so cute and mysterious. I’d love to experience how they feel beside me. I hear it would be the most serene experience.

37. Get lost in a city. I’d love to get lost in the city of Paris – the city of lovers, of romance, of love. I’d do what it takes just to feel the romance, the magic, the grandiosity of it all. I got lost recently. In Edmonton. And I didn’t like the feeling of experiencing it all over again. But that’s not the kind of lost I was talking about. I’m talking about being lost as in being one and enjoying the view the sites, the adventure. I could have when I was lost in Edmonton but it was the lack of finances and the situation that had me bawling and balking.

38. Go where people wouldn’t dare go. There is a reason behind why people shy away from some places. They never would dare go there such as some horrific places and those with stories behind them that would leave you running away instead of running towards it. What most people don’t know is that there is a story behind why people wouldn’t go to these places. There’s history and mystery behind it. That’s what makes it very interesting. I’m so curious about these places that I love to know what really has happened. I guess I never had the chance to go to such places just yet. Except for the burial caves and the hanging coffins of my hometown, but those weren’t eerie places. They were sacred in the truest sense of the word.

39. Go on a road trip with friends. My sense of adventure is always kicking in. I’ve always wanted to go on a road trip from Sagada to the other Northern provinces then going down south towards Batangas, Manila, Bataan, etc.

40. Climb the Great Wall of China. I’ve always been amazed how the wall looked like up close. I’ve always been amazed at how people have died and sacrificed everything to build this wall for safety and now people are coming from all over the world to take a look at how majestic and sacred this wall stood. I’ve always wanted to walk this wall from one end to the other. It seems to be a great adventure.

41. Go deep into a cave. With caves squandered all around Sagada, I’ve always been spelunking here and there but never going deep into its realms. But there was this one time when my sense of adventure kicked in and my friends and I took the cave connection. This was the adventure of the lifetime since we had to go deep into 3 caves connected to one another and this would take 3-4 hours. It took us 5 hours ‘coz I was acting up again.

42. Explore the world. Ever since I’ve heard tales from my aunts, uncles and cousins about what a great world there is outside Sagada and the Philippines, I wanted to take a trip around the world and live my life to the fullest. So here I am in Canada, a stepping stone to fulfilling my dreams that had for years been distant and running away from me.

43. Go on a backpacking adventure around Asia. Yeah. I know. I’m really an adventurous person. And with that spontaneity. I’d love to just pack a bag and go lose myself in the beauty of nature and cities around Asia. So I’ve started to see Singapore. I still have 49 more Asian countries to go to, including the Philippines. That gets me so excited.

44. Visit the Arctics. Once in a while, I’d also want to just up and leave everything, my family and friends and everything I’ve ever known and just live somewhere else where I could be alone and just be who I want to be, do whatever I want to do, say whatever I want to say. There are times like this that I want to just drop everything and get lost. The arctics would be the perfect place to stay being that it is remote and no one knows who I am there.

45. Visit the Alps. A nature lover, I’d love to visit the alps and capture a moment. And drink a steaming cup of coffee while looking at those majestic mountains.

46. Achieve financial freedom. Who wouldn’t want to be rich? I for one would love to have that kind of freedom to provide for my family and my future. And do whatever I want.

47. Find mysterious places. Deep inside me there’s a thorn that keeps pricking me, leading me to be a curious person. I keep wondering and so if I know there’s something mysterious or weird I’d love to experience it first-hand.

48. Go surfing. Unfortunately, the only surfing I’ve done as of the moment is surfing the internet.

49. Explore the Philippines. Having been in Sagada almost all my life, I thought it was the most beautiful place in the world. I never knew that all over the Philippines, there are other places as mysterious as our caves, as majestic as our waterfalls, as cool as our breeze, etc. I guess. This should be my first stop when I go home after I cross out #46 of this list.

50. Own Siberian huskies. I’m always partial to dogs especially those bred with high society lines. The cutest of them all would be Siberian huskies. Some of these days, I’ll get to buy one or two of these huskies. Maybe not from Siberia per se. But I would love to visit Siberia anyhow.

A Journey to a New World: Hong Kong

I liked the ride to the airport. It was smooth-sailing, without any of the hue of jumbled jeepneys and cars trying to weave their way in streets only intended for two-way traffic just like in the Philippines. But it wasn’t even 6 in the morning and dampness trickled down my back. I could feel it. That’s how hot it was the day I left Singapore for Hong Kong. Hot enough to start making my palms and feet sweating profusely. It felt good washing up before leaving for the airport but the fact that I had no choice but to use my sneakers still reeking of yesterday’s sweat made me want to throw them out the taxi window and bravely take a walk or run in only my newly-washed worn-out socks once we get to the airport terminal. But the acrid stench of my sweating feet may just cause the taxi to veer off course and cause an accident. I wouldn’t want that to happen. Ever. It’s embarrassing enough that my feet stink when it sweats excessively. It would be even more embarrassing that it could cause a massive accident. And I didn’t want any of that to happen. I don’t really want to hurt anyone. Ever. So I thought we all survived the ride. Thank God. Although I don’t really know if Mng. Apple and the taxi driver were just holding their breaths. Hehe.

Overlooking Changi's check in counters

Singapore’s Changi Airport was as breathtaking in the day as it was at night. I liked the set-up better than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Philippines only allows airline passengers to enter the terminal. The families and friends would have to say their goodbyes outside the terminal as no one could just get in. Security was that tight. I still roll my eyes over that fact. But in Singapore, family members sending off their relatives could enter the airport up to a certain point before the immigration section. You could even wave goodbye after checking in. I was nervous enough so it was a good thing that Mng. Apple accompanied me inside. First thing we did was to pick up my boarding passes. The airport personnel, a lady in her twenties with her hair tied up, was kind enough to inform me that all my luggage will be well taken care of until I reach my destination. So I needn’t worry about going to baggage claim during the layover at Hong Kong and Vancouver. That’s what she said. She was a bit unsure but her supervisor cleared up that uncertainty. So I had my bags tagged and checked in. And I had my boarding passes with me, all three of them – for this flight, for the flight out of Hong Kong, and lastly, one for the flight to Edmonton. I was set and rearing to go.

My flight was at 10AM but we arrived a little over 7AM. We haven’t had breakfast at home so with that much time, we went to fill our grumbling stomachs. I sat in one of the empty chairs overlooking the terminal. Mng. Apple was gone for quite a while so I took pictures of my boarding passes, my passport, the table I was sitting on, the place I was at. The great view of the entire lower floor, at least from my side of the terminal. I was taking a likeness of pretty much everything seized in a second. By the time I was about to take my own photo, Mng. was already heading my way with two full cups of steaming coffee with the distinguishable pleasant aroma of blueberry muffins catching my senses. Yum! It was a great way to start the day – with a cup of coffee, and muffins that just melt in your mouth. By the time I downed about half a cup, I started to feel a bit of a caffeine buzz. I’m nervous enough now thinking about doing the rest of my travel alone. I think I’ll get even more nervous, later in the day, with way too much coffee in my system.

The flight to Hong Kong was a bit turbulent. It seems like I could feel the air tossing about at the plane’s belly. It was like a bus ride to my hometown Sagada, a bit bumpy and zigzag-y. From the plane window, I could see the plane tip from one side to another and tilt here and there in its weak attempt to find better weather conditions.

For the first 30 minutes of the flight, I had my window up and all I could see was a sea of clouds. So this was how it was to be flying above the clouds. It felt like somehow gliding on those fluffy cotton-like puffs. I could imagine bouncing from one to the other. I knew it would be a feeling ingrained to my brain for all the years of my life. I reached out to somehow feel the cotton-candy distinctive impression of the clouds with the tip of my fingers. But it collided with the pressurized window, unfortunately. Oh, well. I tried at least that much. And then it got hazier and hazier and then I couldn’t really see what’s going on except that we were inside the clouds. Now bored of the foggy disposition of the atmosphere, I tugged the window shade shut, made sure I was belted-in tight, and looked out for something to occupy my mind to shut out the edginess I felt due to the turbulence. But it didn’t last that long. After a few seconds of shaking, a calmness ensued as the plane navigated itself to clear skies and a sunny milieu.

Everyone had the luxury to ask for drinks so I took advantage of that, stretched out my legs. It was a four-hour flight, mind you. So I thought of watching a movie. But I was a bit baffled as to how I would do just that. I started to pore over what technology it was in front of me. Remember, I was a first-time flyer. So I had difficulty maneuvering myself inside a plane. I tried my best figuring out what’s what without the passenger next to me noticing. And I think I’ve succeeded in deceiving him that I was a frequent flyer. Lol.

Anyway, without anyone getting the picture I painted myself in, I was simply looking over how the other passengers were faring on their technological know-how. I became ‘somehow’ adept at such technology just by looking at them that I browsed through its programs and breezed through the movies the airline had in store. I found Gags but I really didn’t find any of it funny. They were just silly at best. And some of them, rude. I found a great Jet Li movie though. I couldn’t recall the title but it was one about a dragon warrior or something to that tune. I think it’s never been shown in the international arena. Maybe it was just for local showing in cinemas. It was in Chinese. It was seriously an action-thriller movie but it came to a point that I held my laughter in. I was already bubbling inside. Jet Li speaking their local language had me cracking up. His voice, I mean. I was literally writhing in my seat as I was seriously trying to hold my laughter in. I had to let that movie go or I’d just embarrass myself. I’ve kept myself entertained for the rest of the flight browsing through movies and programs and before I knew it, the captain was announcing our impending descent to Hong Kong International Airport.

I couldn’t see much difference of Hong Kong in the day as it was for Singapore at night. Hong Kong was a speck of brown and green and white in the atmosphere. I couldn’t see much of it. Funny enough though, I started looking for a sign or something that would stick out and show me which way was DisneyLand. We were closing in and I couldn’t see much of anything so I gave up on that feat.

Over my musings, little did I know that the uneasiness I felt upon my last goodbye wave to Mng. Apple has started to creep back in. The fear of not knowing what to do or where to go or how to get my luggage upon leaving the plane cabin has settled in once the captain gave his final landing instructions. Now, I’m really a stranger in unfamiliar territory. Alone. With just my trusty handbag and a phone that’s not much use anymore since the battery is running low. Despite my worries, I still enjoyed the view of the airport from the heavens. They say that Hong Kong’s airport is the most beautiful airport in the world. I couldn’t see much of it in-flight but upon leaving the cabin, even the tarmac was immaculately constructed just like Changi’s. And there were airport personnel welcoming us. I’ve read before that they were called airport ambassadors. I tried asking them where I should go next. But it seemed that ‘Welcome to Hong Kong’ were the only English words they knew. My anxiety shot up a notch so I took a deep breath, thanked them, smiled, and went on my way with them still whispering among themselves and wondering what the heck I had just asked them. And that realization really hit in. From here on out, I am on my own. I started to worry even more. It felt like I was, at least for the moment, homeless. But I had to keep my mind alert since I had no one else to turn to. I followed the other passengers. And once we cleared the gates, Oh my Lord! My discomfort was eased even by just a small measure but I indulged in that feeling of comfort. I pushed all the bad stuff out of my mind.

Wow! This looked much larger than Changi’s. I looked left and right and behind if anyone was near me but all the other passengers went their own way. Once again, fear settled in. I took a lot of deep breaths. That’s all I did in Hong Kong – taking a lot of deep breaths. The air was a bit different. The fresh and clean air Singapore has dispatched in my system seems to have registered well enough for me to distinguish quite a difference with the air I inhaled in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s air was somewhat more dense and tainted.

I somehow found my own way to the hurly-burly scene of passengers frantically rushing to and fro while some passengers sit back to digest a scrumptious luncheon; airline personnel walking from end to end, effectively giving a hand to and enthusiastically responding to stumped passengers such as myself; airport security doing their rounds; and a cacophony of kids flailing about causing earsplitting noises, some of them holding on to their mothers’ legs, getting callously dragged as their mothers try to find their boarding gates or whatever destination they had in mind.

First thing I did was to seek out the boarding gate for my next flight. I took flyers from the information stand near the arrival lounge to guide me on my way to the departure area. Now, this is where schooling pays off. You’d have to know how to read the maps and signs so you know which way to go. I had a lot of flyers tucked under my arm which I had to flip through over and over to determine where I was and which way I had to go. But it was of no use if you don’t know which way was north, south, east or west. I’ve had a bit of difficulty getting through the map. I had to figure out which terminal I was in first and which concourse I was in, for that matter. And the airport personnel earlier were of no help at all. So I just worked my way through with just the overhead directional signs to the departures level for boarding gates. My first goal was to reach the departure hall.

It was a good thing the layover was for a good 5 and a half hours. I spent half an hour navigating through the terminal, and going through security checks. Another half an hour looking for the boarding gate for my flight. I thought that was the rest of the terminal but as I tried to understand the map once more, I felt like I would faint ‘coz it took me an hour to walk through just the East Hall Departure Area. I didn’t bother going to baggage claim since I was on transit. I was confident enough that my luggages were sent to the next plane just as what the airport ambassador in Singapore has said. So supposedly, all luggages are forwarded to the next airline carrier. And so I set my sights on exploring the departure hall of which my eyes was made full to bursting with all the sparkling decorations and a lot of shops do visit.

While I was walking around, with my handbag in tow and important documents in a safe place, I met a Filipino couple who came from I think it was Cambodia, they said it was. They were bound home to the Philippines. I’ve actually overheard them speaking in the local language. My heart skipped a beat. I felt a bit of pride that Filipinos are really everywhere – all over the world. So then that distinct feeling of being alone has been somewhat staved off by the presence of Kababayans. It just so proves that a Filipino, no matter how lonely he is a traveler, will never be alone. There will always be a Filipino you could meet, one way or another. I’ve overheard this couple being confused as to what time their next flight would depart and what gate they should board in and why their flight doesn’t show up on the bulletin boards. So I introduced myself and tried to unravel their dilemma. We exchanged travel stories for a while. And as the minutes ticked by, I wished the conversation would not end. But I had to find my own boarding gate. Ironically, I helped them find their way easily but I couldn’t find mine just yet. I was good at directions. Just not that adept in handling maps and such.

Anyway, I found my boarding gate at last after getting lost a few times but I still had a lot of time in my hands so I decided to make the best of the remaining hours. I would have loved to go out of the airport and see the sights and Disneyland. I’ve always wanted to go to Disneyland. Yes, even at my age. But I was a bit concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get back in time for my next flight. Knowing that I had to be at the boarding gate 45 minutes before departure, I took it to myself to explore the rest of the terminal. I found a money changing station while walking around so I tried to sell some of my pesos for Canadian Dollars (CAD), Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) and Singaporean Dollars (SGD). I still had some of our local currency with me tucked safely in a folded, worn-out newspaper. It’s lying safe right now in my handbag’s secret pocket. I had to buy an adaptor for my charger since my phone’s battery life has already given up. It cost me 299HKD. After walking around, I got thirsty and the water bottle I had when I left Singapore has been confiscated when I was clearing security so I had to go to the trouble of exchanging currency just to buy a cola which cost me 24HKD. Oh my God. I still had that receipt tucked in a piece of something, somewhere. And I wasn’t able to finish that damned cola. I had to throw it out when we landed in Vancouver as we passed through security checks. But it was a cool experience having to feel how it was to travel out of your own country, having to buy things at a whim knowing you only have just the right amount of currency to get you through your destination. It was a feeling I would welcome anytime, but to a certain extent. I had to make sure I still had enough money to get me home.

Hurray! My boarding gate! Wheee! At last!

As I soared from one shop to the other, I noticed escalators leading to passenger lounges while I was walking around and I just had to check it out. I didn’t know these were VIP lounges until I saw a sign upstairs that a card (that only eligible members of The Marco Polo Club, Cargo Clan Elite and Oneworld Emerald & Sapphire members have) was needed to pay for services rendered. For a reasonable fee (accordingly), you can relax in comfort in one of these pay-in lounges before boarding a flight or during transit. You can enjoy hot showers, all day food and beverage buffet, internet and email access as well as live CNN news feeds on TV, magazines, newspapers, massage chairs and seated massage. It’s a perfect place to freshen up after a long and tiring flight. There are shower rooms, hair blow-dry rooms and resting area. Oh my God. I was so enchanted that I still proceeded to explore the upper floors despite myself being discovered and to peek at each room that had access. I could have knocked but I was worried they might chase me away once they find out my identity. Haha. I was like a female James Bond that time or someone else. I was like the heroine in a Brad Pitt movie. This time, no Angelina Jolie. I was ‘the’ Mrs. Smith.

After a rush of adrenaline from masquerading as a well-heeled individual with wallet bursting with cards and cash in different currencies, I found that there were these escalator-thingies except for them being flat on the ground (looked more like a conveyor belt for people), which takes the passengers from one end to the other. The whole time, I didn’t ride it because I thought it would lead to someplace else. But it wasn’t only when I reached the end that I realized, it was there for that very purpose of transporting passengers so as them not having any difficulty with walking around, their luggages and all. With that said, I rolled my eyes and called myself stupid.

So the next platform, I tried getting on it. It even welcomes you once you step over it and advises you to watch your step at the end. Oh my Lord! For the rest of the ride, I just stood there enjoying the ride not knowing really how to describe my emotions at that very moment. It’s not like the feeling you get when you ride those stairs or escalators going up and down. If anything, I felt free. It was only after I stepped off it that I realized I was grinning like a kid eating ice cream on a hot day after a fun adventure at the amusement park. So I simply rode on another to get me to the other end. I think I enjoyed it too much that I kept riding it back and forth from one end of the terminal to the other without any purpose as to where and what I am after. All this while, I tried so much to hide my look of excitement and enjoyment but it was a bit hard when you’re enjoying yourself and your emotions are at the brink of breaking out. And I was alone. So yes, the people around me must have thought that I’ve lost the last of my wits.

Anyway, I kept on walking around. By the time it was time to board, I was done exploring the nook and crannies of the airport. It was finally time to go. I tried not to look back. But I’ll admit, I looked back once.

I had never checked-in in an airplane alone before. There never had been a need. But I didn’t want anyone to know that. So I just listened too attentively to what the ambassadors were saying as well as read all the signs and searched the internet. There’s free Wi-Fi and I had my phone charged in one of the phone charging stations of the terminal at no cost at all. It would have cost me Php30/hr back home.

Once on the plane, dinner was served. I was scared to order something out of my comfort zone but I wanted to taste their congee. I thought it would be the authentic one since China or Hong Kong is known for their porridges and noodles. I have to tell you, I didn’t really like it. I could have had a culinary orgasm to our very own arrozcaldo when compared to the congee they served. Yuck! I would have tossed it out the plane window, if it was even possible. And with that, I just took out the Monde muffins Mng. Apple offered me before leaving the house. It had that lip-smacking goodness despite its dryness but I would welcome anything else rather than having that bowl of goo chugged down my throat. Then I got to bed, if you could call the seat of an airplane that. It was comfortable nonetheless.

So that’s most of the excitement I had in Hong Kong. I promised myself to visit Hong Kong Disneyland one of these days. I hope Hong Kong would be willing to welcome me back.

So I had to take something else with me...

A Journey to a New World: Singapore

It’s almost a year since I’ve set foot here in the Land of the Maple Leaf but my journey to this New World still vividly comes to mind. I could still remember the weather was a bit dreary when I with my cousin and her family left for Singapore for a visit to their home. The tears came down like rain that afternoon as my mom and I said our goodbyes at the airport. It was a bittersweet ambiance. My heart ached, my chest felt stuffy. But there was a tinge of excitement and triumph. It’s a feeling that’s always been embedded in the deepest recess of my soul – an alcove not a one has ever understood. It was that kind of feeling which emitted such a powerful antidote to the already weary soul. It’s a gloomily blissful feeling – the kind that emboldens oneself to strive to live with and capitalize on the present for a better if not an opulent future. And that memory has never left me ever since that day I left.

It was a three-night-two-day stay in the Garden City of South East Asia but it felt like just an hour of great adventures. The minutes went by too fast as they became hours and then the hours turned to days. I wanted this feeling of warmth in my heart to last for a while and it did – for months until now.

A week before my flight and I was still finishing up some office work and trying to beat a deadline as well as create more deadlines and extend some others. That was the one week that stayed in my memories for months up to now. It was a week I never wanted but surprisingly these days, I miss it. All the office stuff – those one-of-a-kind Monday and Tuesday sessions jotting down deliberations on the what-nots and what-ifs for the welfare of the municipality; those demanding Wednesdays; those bland, not-so-hectic Thursdays; those Fridays when we get so high-spirited ‘coz I get to sleep in tomorrow; and, those Saturdays and sometimes Sundays that we strenuously and half-heartedly put in some extra hours. But that’s another story to tell. For now, I’d just want to share a certain part of my life in my sojourn into a foreign land.

The night before my travel to the city, I was still trying to clear out the office. Time was so constrained that saying goodbye to everything and everyone that I loved for the past few months has been such an emotional journey for me. I couldn’t even take my lawyer friend out for a decent meal, even my own family and friends for that matter.

But knowing the fact that despite unsaid farewells everything and everyone will still be there to cherish and treasure made my burden lighter. I was thankful for if it had been a pound or two more, the plane would have not flown!

The fact that knowing that everyone you left is cheering you on has made my baggage light. It was emotional turmoil when I left in such a hurry for a cliché – ‘in search of greener pastures’.

Being on an airplane for the first time has kept me up during the entire night flight. I was with family so the flight has been a terrific encounter. I was with Mng. Apple, her husband Mng. Raj, and my two delightfully charming and striking cousins, Sumer and Shankar. We left for Singapore on a three-hour flight. It was my first flight and I had an splendid experience. Now that I look back, it was a funny experience as well. The whole flight, I was deviously finding ways to take a proper picture of myself (selfie) without the other passengers noticing, more importantly, the flight attendants. It was already night time so the lights were off. I took a couple of photos but the flash came on automatically. The photos didn’t look good. They didn’t look good in the dark either. Oh, well. I might be able to take a good photo on the plane bound for Canada.

Singapore was a sight to behold at night. From the plane window, I could see the lights of the city as we approached Singapore’s Changi Airport. It was breathtaking. The closer we flew down, the lower the altitude, the more I couldn’t explain how I felt. I wanted to go back home to the Philippines but at the same time, I wanted to set foot in another land and experience what it had to offer. I knew it would be a pleasure visiting with family. And I was right. The moment we got off the plane, I had a distinct feeling that I would be coming back. When? I didn’t have the slightest idea but I have learned a long time ago to always trust my gut. The airport was a beauty in itself. The prominent watch tower was so colorful, such that an artist just swished his paint brush onto the tower and mysteriously, a hue of colors had just blended into place. It was the first thing that caught my attention in-flight. And it was the last thing I saw as we left the airport. Impressive!

I still hadn’t gotten over my first plane ride, rushing to the passenger gates, etc. when another matter slapped me right on the face. I knew Singapore follows right-hand driving but to experience it first-hand has been quite a shock. And the taxis in Singapore didn’t look like any other taxi in the Philippines. It was limousine style except for the lack of luxury food and drinks. It was my first limousine ride. Hah! Maybe I could now stop dreaming of ever riding a limousine someday ‘cause this felt like I was riding one. Ohh, it would be cool to ride a real one but this taxi could be enough to stave off that craving temporarily. Even the mere fact that I had to gaze outside its windows was a great experience. I had a clear view of Singapore’s night life – well maybe not all of it, but at least part of it. It was nearing midnight and the city was still buzzing with cars and people all about. And the neon lights! Whew! Every building was having a contested display with their aesthetic show of twinkling, dazzling lights. The kaleidoscope of colors brought me just to one thought, ‘I am definitely coming back.’ I can’t afford not to. I had not spent an hour in this marvelous country and here I was loving it as every second ticked by. I was excited for the days – and nights, I would be spending in this little Asian country I now could call home. Yes, it’s another home away from home. Wherever or whatever dwelling my family finds shelter in, I could call it my home. Mi casa, su casa. Or for that matter, ‘Su casa, mi casa.’ Ah! Family. I love them all.

I couldn’t sleep well that night. I couldn’t believe I was in Singapore. I just couldn’t believe what was unfolding before my eyes. I remember that as I was writing this in a journal I always keep with me, sleep couldn’t yet overcome me. Maybe the sleep fairies came late that night. Oh, I just can’t wait for the sun to rise. That’s a first since I always wanted the nights not to be over so I wouldn’t have to wake up early. But with a lot of excitement I had in just over 24 hours, I could say I could live with it for once. And then just as seasons were bound to change, the sun rose charmingly that morning. The rays of the sun tried at best to peek through the blinds from the window signifying a good day ahead. My eyes were open but my brain was still trying to wake from its lethargic state. Something warm beside me registered. It was something good and something I could get used to. It turned out to be Beethoven, my niece’s and nephew’s cute tuxedo cat cuddled up beside me. Sooooo cute! I stretched out careful not to wake the peacefully, sleeping cat. I sat up and something by the bedside table caught my eye. Oh. It’s Katy Purry – a cute tabby, just sitting on the tabletop glancing at me and the window as if telling me that the sun is up and I had to move my butt. Blaster, another tabby (a mackerel one, I think) was on the floor, walking circles, curious about what was in my luggage. What a way to start the day – with warmth and in high spirits. The day is delightfully unfolding into a marvelous one.

My niece and nephew were still in bed. I was so excited to find out how my day really turns out. Mng. Apple, barely up and about, was probably slaying me in her thoughts for waking up too early. We slept past midnight although dead-tired from our travel to the airport and our flight. But I had a full day ahead of me and I wanted to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t catch the sun rising. And that made me all the more excited to witness the sun dipping, commanding half the world into nightfall. I really couldn’t recall anything else about the day since I was in cloud nine the whole time. All I could recall was the kindness and hospitality my cousins and her family showed me. I was so touched I blinked back the tears of happiness and sadness. Happy, because I’ve had a great adventure with my cousins and nephews. Sad, because I already miss my mom, sisters and brother. It would have been great if we took this vacation together. But then I thought to myself, ‘Oh, well. Maybe in the near future.’

I’ve had a lot of reservations when it came to travelling out of the country but now that I gained an experience, it was a refreshing adventure. This little Asian country has astounded me in more ways than I could imagine. The people, the sights, the experience of it all. My three-night-two-day stay has been a rush of events. It felt like it was just a two-minute preview of my life unravelling before my eyes. The days were jam-packed with fun-filled activities and lolly-gagging. I’ve had the time of my life though I was a bit uncomfortable since I had to impose on the kindness of my cousin and her family.

The next day was full of excitement since I had the chance to go to the beach! And my! Was it a sight! I could see the airplanes lining up along the horizon towards Changi Airport. The docks were filling up with large cargo vessels. The sea was so serene and the air was so fresh with that musty scent the seaweeds and marine life has emitted.

The first time I’ve been to a body of water was to fish with my dad at the lake just a 30-minute walk from our residence. Well, that’s beside the fact that we had this large bath tub installed at the main bedroom's T&B where we learned to somehow breathe underwater and sometimes to take a dive to the chagrin of my dad and mom. But I loved going fishing and having a picnic by the lake, although I could not recall if we ever caught one. But I always wanted to capture that moment and take it to heart. I’ve loved the water since then.

Our visit to East Coast Beach was a bit regretful since I didn’t have with me a set of clothes to change in. I would have loved to feel the waves cascade over my body and feel those ripples massage my weary soul. I satisfied myself just by taking off my shoes and feeling the water rush over my sand-covered feet. It was so fun playing with my cousin, niece and nephew, taking time to capture those moments of happiness. It was a lovely feeling to share these moments with someone you love and not being a stranger in foreign land. We stayed till dusk and it was awesome to see the sun setting as my cousin and I sat on the sand, talked about this and that while watching the sun set. The horizon quickly changed from a hue of black and blue into a bright yellow-orange reddish color. The airplanes could now be seen more vaguely as they lined up the sky. The cargo vessels had their lights turned on as well. The sea sparkled from the rays of the sun. The park has turned on the lamps. The earth and the heavens became a stage in just a matter of minutes as the sun quickly concealed itself and a display of sparkling lights came on. I had a connection with the earth and the heavens that day.

The darkness came so fast that I regretted that it had to end. We walked along the coast towards the shower stalls to clean ourselves up. Mng. Raj was on his way from work to pick us up. We had dinner at a fancy restaurant way across town and I had a chance to savor that famous Nasi Lemak – a spicy local dish of seafood/meat, nuts and sun-dried, salted fish. This dish was very much recommended by my aunt. That was even spicier than the Korean dishes I’ve loved to eat back home. It was so spicy, I got a runny nose. It was so hot I got a bit teary-eyed. But I couldn’t stop myself from digging in. This was my next favorite dish to adobo, kimchi and bibimbap. It was a great dining experience. My first fine dining experience in foreign land.

From dawn till dusk, from morning to the dark of night, as the sun rose and set again, I got more excited that I couldn’t wait to see even a ray of sun pouring in from the window. Mng. Apple and Mng. Raj had a lot planned for the next day. I was embarrassed, a bit uncomfortable. Mng. Raj took the day off so he could drive us around the country. So, with the family, we went driving around Singapore. My cousin’s family lives in the Westside towards the Malaysian bridge and we drove around like there’s no tomorrow to the east, the north and south. Although it was just a glimpse of Singapore’s treasured attractions, I still was amazed to set my sights on Marina Bay Sands, with its majestic hotdog bun-like roof. Mng. Apple told me that hotdog bun-like thing contained the most majestic swimming pool. I was like, at the rooftop?! Cool! Got to check that out one day. Well, jot it down my second bucket list of things to do. And it’s dangerously close to overflowing again.

We passed by Sentosa, Mt. Faber, Madame Tussauds, Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Singapore, Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, The National Library, The Singapore Flyer, the famous Orchard Road, etc. And we went to this place where it was overlooking most of the city. I would have loved to try the rides but we were burning daylight and there were still lots of things to see. We went to Lucky Plaza and wow! It was marvelous. I’ve been told it’s where Filipinos meet up during their days off and have fun. We also passed by the financial district of Singapore – the Central Business District. It looked like Makati City. With lots of high rise buildings, I would have loved to visit all the shops and the scenic sites but I chucked it down my now filled-to-the-brim bucket. Singapore’s architecture really amazes me with its ancient feel. Even the biggest buildings had a touch of Singapore’s history and culture. The old Chinese and Malay temples I just got a glimpse off the car window has given me a feeling of comfort and unexplained delight. Even the smallest corners have left me falling more and more in love with this nation. There’s something mystifying about it all. I’ve had first-hand experience with one of those smallest corners when we’ve gone to eat in Little India. Whoa! It was a lot of food for one to take part in. But I finished all of it with much gusto. Singapore’s delectable cuisine is definitely something to look forward to.

Despite the blistering heat and the rivulets of sweat trickling down my now soaked tee, I’ve had the time of my life visiting the Lion City. I am sure this marvelous city has much more mysterious places hidden in its concrete jungle as well as its lush, green forests. I have yet to visit its natural wonders. I’ve felt a bit of a sting in my heart for not being able to see everything Singapore has to offer. The pain was a bit bittersweet. I believe that this pain will never go away until I get to experience the sweet taste of Mother Nature. I love the outdoors but I was sorry to just leave it at that, for the moment. This was enough to fuel my curiosity on what’s really going on and how it would feel to take a drive to the farthest corner of Singapore and witness the grandiosity of it all.

My two-day stay at the Lion City of SE Asia has been a surreal experience. It has been nothing but a memory I would always love to visit and experience again.

At East Coast Beach

At Lucky Plaza

Central Business District