Headlights On!

I-210

Glendale

The road suddenly curved towards a dark tunnel. The contrast of sunlight at the end made me dizzy. I thought headlights-on all the time was a waste of energy, but I realized it’s not only a necessity but also a safety measure. One time, I almost hit a car dangerously parked halfway through the fastest lane - in the dark tunnel! In places (like Seoul, Korea) where a lot of roads pass through tunnels underneath mountains, headlights-on-all-the-time should be made mandatory regulation. Fact: some cars automatically turn-on headlights upon engine start, also when wipers are in auto mode.
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Suzie

Dollar Store
Foothill Blvd

Every time you’re at the counter, the counter boy or girl will (always) say. “Hi, how are you?" or "How's it goin?” The reply will (always) be, “I’m good, and you?” “I’m good.” The customer replies then look away. End of conversation. Boring! So, I used a different tack at a Dollar Store nearby: “Hi, how are you….” the counter girl said without looking. I replied, “Oh, hi Suzie.” She looked at me and asked, “Have we met before, how’d you know my name?” I said, “It’s at your pin. It say’s, Hi I’m Suzie….”
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Oktoberfest

Mango Square

Cebu

 Jun Fabian

I’ve never lost in a beer-drinking contest. Never. It isn’t about how much, but how fast you can consume a bottle, two or three. But regardless, I always win! I think I know the fastest way to get that beer down my throat. And it doesn’t matter if it’s against a fellow Filipino, or German…. Now, Fabian, who’s German, made the challenge. I said, “Yes why not.” First match: I won. And then, won the rematch. It was a friendly but boy did Fabian eye me! “How’d you do that?” he asked unbelieving. I said, “Just drink man, drink!”
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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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Leaving

Los Angeles

I was intrigued by the Jews, except for Bible stories, not much is known about them in my country. Then I got curious about Armenia. “Armenians and Israelis have things in parallel.” Abimelik said. Armenia is the first country to make Christianity a state religion while Israel is the only Jewish state, both countries being surrounded by the Muslim and the Arab world. There has been Diasporas in both communities, one returning to an expanding homeland, the other scattering, leaving behind a shrinking territory. “Like wood eaten away by termites, my Armenia is getting smaller by the day.” Abimelik sighed….

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Roasted!

Mount Olive Party

La Crescenta, California

Bulgarian Evo said, “My favorite food is Cheverme, an entire lamb roasted on a spit.” I said, “My favorite food is Lechon, an entire pig roasted on a spit!” The story goes way back in China when a man lost his house to fire. As he cried over his misfortune he noticed a tasty smell coming from something red smoldering on the ground - the crunchy skin of a roast pig! To commemorate this eventful discovery, he burned his house every year, with some pigs of course…. Evo said, “But lamb is better”. I said. “Pig.” “Lamb!” “Pig!” “Lamb!”

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Fishing

Balboa Park

Encino, California

I have nothing against lakes but I am partial to the ocean. And I can’t understand why people chose to hang out in this lake when the ocean is just a couple of miles away! There is really nothing special here except for a sign that says - Fishing! But it’s catch and release. What? I will have to wait long enough to land one and I am supposed to release it back in the water? For me the objective of fishing is eating so I still have to find meaning in this futile exercise. Meaning. Please....

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A Different Kind of Smell

Van Nuys

Los Angeles

I am not particularly fond of Indian food because of that key ingredient – known as hing but with nicknames like stinking gum and devil’s dung. Those not used to it will stay away from the dinner table for sure. But I know that if I did, my hosts will be offended. I tell you I had stomach discomfort after that meal but gained a lot of respect from my Indian friends who said that hing goes to the very heart of Indian cooking. Well, for me it went to my very stomach, which protested very loudly....

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Football

Red River

Hanoi, Vietnam

We hopped on the island going towards a football field facing another arm of the Red River. In cold Hanoi, local footballers play here in the afternoons unmindful of the dark history surrounding the area. On the right side of the fisher village were concrete columns rising thirty feet in the air lining the riverbank all the way to Long Bien Bridge. These sturdy pillars are mute witnesses to the atrocities of the past during the French colonization of the country where hundreds of Vietnamese POWs were tied to these posts, and shot.

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The Girls Of Akihabara

Akihabara

Tokyo

It’s a busy Tokyo district known for electronics stuff but something new has come up overwhelming the place, and for good reason. They are princesses and ghosts, and zombies and anime characters. They walk down the streets or idly sit by a corner, but a whole lot gather in a piazza near a Shinto shrine. Their getup shouts for attention but somehow shy, and wants to be left alone. “Picture?” I asked. “Sure!” the “black fairy” replied….

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Hammock

Ferry Ride

Surigao

It was midday. One fellow rigged a hammock in the middle of the ship’s view deck who wrapped himself in and then, fell asleep. Then the rain came. We huddled close to the ship’s overhanging upper deck but our eyes were glued at the now dripping hammock. Alerted by the admiring crowd, the fellow’s friend ran to his recue, shook him silly and ran back, but he didn’t wake up, so back he went again. This time his friend yanked the hammock, he fell on the floor, and they both ran towards the cheering crowd!

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