Snowden

Despite US request for extradition, China let go of Snowden from Hongkong to Russia; and then Cuba; final destination – Ecuador. It’s a trail for all to see the big picture, that there’s an alliance strong enough to oppose the lone superpower. Russia was a big chunk of the once mighty USSR and it’s still very powerful with its nuclear arsenal and all, and it’s allied with economic powerhouse China. Add Iran to the equation, and Cuba and Venezuela plus the ALBA bloc and you have a real threat to the throne. I wonder how this will unfold in the end.

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Pay For Free?

I signed up for a trial issue on a periodical about birds with a free gift about food. It says if I don’t end up subscribing, I just write cancel on the return envelope but keep the book – as a gift. I decided not to subscribe, so I cancelled and mailed. Then the bills started arriving for the pricey gift! What? After at least 4 customer service calls and a handful of escalating bills, the paid RD addressed envelope finally arrived. How funny now that it’s finally over but at first I was annoyed, then disgusted at this tacky advertising.
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Long Con Lance

He struggled and survived cancer, setup a foundation to help others who have it then went for the impossible – won Tour De France 7 times! Who wouldn’t be smitten? Ever since the first win he was accused of cheating and the accusations kept coming but he fought and proved them wrong in every forum. Did he really? He? Who’s a larger-than-life, against-all-odds victorious hero? But now it makes sense: He’s rarely caught smiling on cam and he doesn’t mingle with riders other than his teammates - because he’s a false champ who conned us all, this guy Lance Armstrong.

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Tight Like Skin

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam

Hanoi, a northern city near the China border has cold winters while Ho Chi Minh in the south has tropical weather, hot and humid. As I stepped out of the tarmac at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the air hugged me tightly like skin; it kept me in like clothing, warm and comforting. I scanned the waiting area looking for a dignified diplomat in coat and tie. Being the Philippines’ Honorary Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh, Gerry was surprisingly dressed casually in white shirt and blue jeans. We shook hands as I started removing my winter coat. . “Welcome to Vietnam!”

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Rite Of Passage

Xhosa

South Africa

Under Xhosa tradition this rite of passage is more elaborate. While the circumcision man was sharpening the knife with a rock, the boy sat on a coconut under a guava tree whose leaves he chewed – to disinfect the wound. “Are you ready?” Before the boy could answer, he lifted the foreskin, inserted the knife and in rapid succession hammered it with a stick! “Spit on the cut.” He did. And the pain, the hotness, and raw feeling it felt gave way to a scream that has woken the entire neighborhood! That was my rite of passage. I was a man!

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As Tall As A Totem Pole

Hanoi
Vietnam

Since it’s the New Year, let’s go back to where I started writing about - Travel Stories. Now, one of the more interesting aspects of travel is local houses’ architecture. Hanoi for example has houses like Totem Poles, long and slender that can go up to 8^th floor! That is, one room for each floor placed on top of the other! Kitchen and living rooms usually occupy lower floors, toilet the middle, while bedrooms the top. And when you reach the topmost floor, you will feel like planting a flag, a white cloth or something that flutters in the wind….

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2013

The past is gone.
And the future is now!
"What good may I do in it?"
Happy New Year!



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Good Company

Let’s strip down to basics, forget who you are what you do and where you’re from, and really engage in a conversation and have a good laugh. It’s easy - especially when you’re having moonshine! T’was an interesting talk about horse racing, French cooking and college football with Bill Adams. Now, Bill’s a successful businessman in the automotive field, very successful, very rich, and a descendant of two United States president John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Bill said, “Let me know when you’re down to Vegas again, I’ll cook for you.” How cool is that….
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True Champ

Sometimes a true champ is defined by his own words: "I am more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world. When all this is over, what are you left with?" That's my man Lionel Messi who just broke Gerd Mueller’s 40-year-old record for most goals (85) in a calendar year.


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