Let it snow let it snow let it snow

I will be traveling to East Coast, New York & Washington DC, in less than a month but seeing what’s going on out there weather-wise is kind of chilling, literally! They’ve been battered by snow storms the last few weeks, worst they’ve ever experience.

Daughter will be performing on the 27th of February at the famous Carnegie Hall, New York with her school choir group. A once in a lifetime opportunity so even if it’ll cost me an arm and a leg, I made sure wife and I will be there to witness it and while there might as well say do the touristy thingy.

After NY, I’ll be heading alone to Maryland on the 28th for a week-long work-related technical training, all paid by Uncle Sam. Since DC is the main hub going back to LA, I thought I give myself a chance to sit next to Uncle Abe Lincoln and high-five with Prez Obama in the White House. I’m really excited about this trip for one thing I’ve never been to DC. I was in NY once years back!

I don’t know how peeps from East Coast live in that kind of weather. I once experience snow while working in Tokyo and I never liked it. Falling snows are nice but when it stays on the ground for days, that’s when trouble begins.

So I say let it snow NOW so that by the time we get there come next month, they are all melted and the smell of spring is in the air already. :-)

Lonely Planet, Lonely Island

Lonely Planet, a popular travel guide website that caters to travelers around the world for its unbiased reviews of places to visit listed the Philippine islands as one of the best value destinations, a go-to spot "for those who desire nothing more than to find great, undiscovered beaches, surf the odd wave and eat unique, distinctive food for under $20 a day."

Can’t beat that!

In spite of recent unfortunate events in the country like the Luneta massacre last August with eight HK tourists dead in botched rescue attempt, the Philippines is still in the top 10 Asian destination. It didn’t hurt much even after the tourism department attempt of replacing “Wow Philippines”, the old but succinct slogan, with a new campaign slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda”. Well you know the rest is history.

The way I see it, Philippines is really a great tourist destination with so many things to offer other than beaches and open skies. I’ve been asked many times about our country and I’m proud to say we have a lot more than they can imagine...the culture, history, and nature. The people alone will make them smile.

It’s definitely NOT a lonely island. Kaya tara na, byahe na!

You Are Not Alone

Ryan Bingham played by George Clooney, my long lost twin bro, said in the movie “Up in the Air"...

“Everybody dies alone.”

It couldn’t be truer when you get really old here in the US. It’s really a disturbing scene seeing old folks get housed-in a retirement or convalescent home, surrounded by people you don’t even know and stuck in a room with a TV remote in hand to keep you company.

Yeah once a month, if you are lucky, you’ll see another shadow or hear a different voice aside from yours. You’ll have visitors, a relative maybe or a really good friend checking you out asking if everything is alright, with every kind of food dumped in your fridge for you to eat until their next visit. Next month perhaps!

Sad isn’t it?

And no, not everything is alright! That’s what you’ll say in your mind, only you can hear. It’s written all over your face but no one seem to see your sadness and your longings to be back home where you really belong, in the comfort of your own family you brought to life not too long ago. You just want a decent ending to your own reality movie.

Depressing sights to say the least...

I told my only daughter (that I know of), that if ever she sends me to a place like that, I swear she’ll never get a good sleep the rest of her remaining life. I will haunt her forever...:-)

I would like to be back home where I came from. Fade in the sunset with known people and familiar surroundings. That I can take! A much better ending to a good life.

Not alone.