Czech Train

MRT

Manila

I ride this train every now and then just to see the city. And today, I preferred standing, holding on to the overhead handle bar. I was pleased by gentle rocking and creaking of the tracks. She was standing a few feet from where I was, body swaying with the train. She squinted. Was it sunlight? Then she came to within kissing distance of a sign by the door that says - Made in Czech Republic. She beamed in delight. “You must be a Czech chick.” I managed to say. She smiled and said, “Yes!” “And what’s your name?” “Simona….”
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Winged

Torrijos

South of Manila

Approaching the end of their lives, termites produce wings, and fly….

The sun already started to set when they came in droves overwhelming the forest. They were everywhere, in our food, our drinks, necks and ears. We swatted and slapped and smacked and ran around, but there was no escaping the pesky little fliers! We looked up and saw birds circling around trees on mountaintops before dive-bombing in midair to catch the wood nibblers. It was sheer pandemonium in the skies! After an hour or so of frenzied flying, their wings fall out, then dropped on the ground, dead.

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Invisible Monkeys

Marinduque

South of Manila

This was a deserted mangrove-forest island fabled for hundreds of monkeys, and today we were going to give it a visit hoping the mischievous monkeys will show up as the local fishermen say they would. For food, we only brought rice. “We can just catch fish there for grilling.” they said. It sounded really exciting, and we did catch some fish, except that they were as big as our fingers. It turned out that all they want was drink booze. And the monkeys? One of the fishermen said, “It’s the first time ever - not one showed up!”

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Morning Rush

MRT
Manila

The queues were long. We patiently waited in line. But the others will barge in for sure when the train comes. Two old people came in position by the door looking anxious amidst the mob in the morning rush for work. There is no way they can wrestle their way in without physical harm. So, the instant the door opened, I boxed-out, held my position, and let them through first. The flow of commuters pushing their way in swept us all inside. The doors closed; the train moved; and we grabbed the handlebars while turning away from one another.

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Out For Lunch

Shangri-La
Manila

“Out for lunch” a sign says. I sat and waited. I was deliberately patient in an attempt to beat Murphy’s Law, which rule our lives most of the time. But thirty minutes passed! So I decided to buy phone cards somewhere else. I know it’s pointless but just to drive home the idea I came back just after a fleeting five minutes or so. There, as clear as daylight, by the counter, behind clear glass, she was fixing her hair admiring herself, turning left, right, eyes glued at her pocket mirror; she pouted her lips, blink blink. Murphy’s right!
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