time is the enemy
Two weeks simply isn't enough time to see old friends, relive nostalgia and catch up on new developments. It simply isn't good enough to squeeze everyone one day a week when it takes up to a week to even schedule anything between monsoons, floods, and disastrous traffic. But we do what we can and a hurried vacation is better than no vacation at all and I would say my two weeks in Manila were well worth it–having managed to fit in a trip to the beach, a family reunion, a birthday party, a live gig, finally seeing SOME old friends again and catching up, and of course, some shopping which includes the purchase of a stack of local CDs and books, yay!
It felt surreal because everyone looked exactly the same, not a day older, as if no time had passed in the last nine years since I last saw them, and yet so much has happened. We've mostly fallen off the calendar age-wise, some now raising children with husbands or wives, but when we got together over a bottle, glass, cup or sinigang, it was like old times again and we were reckless youth with no responsibilities as the kids were home with someone watching over them. The warm beer tastes like no other, the hot gin trickles between your lips and dribbles down your throat like no other, the oppressive air damp with last night's rain feels like no other, and the food, oh, the food you can only find there and simply tastes like home.
Next time, we ought to try three weeks. At least we can get more people in, and yes, spend more beach time. Time kills your best laid plans and constantly threatens to run out on you when you need it most. It's as if you just never get enough, especially when you're jet lagged and can't sleep in the right time zone. So, I'll try to make use of it and absorb my stack of music, digest some words, and, bahala na bukas.
11:39 PM | |
