Si gwapo at ang apat na Pinay sa bus
That should be a lesson: Never acknowledge you're a Pinoy when you're on a bus, especially when there are Pinays waiting to harrass you.
So the unthinkable happened. I was on a bus to Wah Fu, comfortably seated at the left front seat of the second deck, when I heard a group of Pinays giggling as they climbed the stairs. Since the second deck was occupied entirely by me, I thought it wouldn't matter much if they joined me; I'd probably feel safer that way.
But "safe" was just a word and a feeling that was nowhere to be found when the four giggling ladies spotted me alone. Immediately, they occupied the four seats that were directly behind me and said things about me, without them realizing I wasn't Chinese, and hence could understand what they were talking about.
"Ay nag-iisa. Matabihan nga," the loudest of them said. Course, anyone who didn't understand her would still instinctively look at her for the reason that she was being noisy, but I did more than glance. I furrowed my brows and smiled a little, giving her the impression that I understood her, before I turned my back.
"Ay Pinoy ka ba? Kala ko chekwa. Hahaha!"
I was trying to be polite and so I smiled again. I thought that by letting her know I was also Pinoy who could understand her, they wouldn't make fun of me anymore. But I was wrong.
"Tingnan mo nga naman. Sumakay lang ako papuntang Wah Fu, may nakasakay na'kong gWahFu!"
I didn't know what to do. And even if I did smile back because I found her remark a little hilarious and the way she said those rhymes were so funny, I began to get uneasy and somehow harrassed. But these ladies had a charm of some sort that everytime they threw a punchline, I would still smile. And then they would tease me and flatter me and the next thing I knew I was already feeding them information about my self.
"Ah, six months na ko dito." I just can't believe I said that and I was really having a conversation with them.
"San ka sa Manila? Malay mo bisitahin kita," the loudest of them (the lady who would also bag the best actress award for being the naughtiest and funniest) said.
"Taguig." Again, I couldn't believe I was talking to these ladies.
They continued giggling. The journey was about 25 minutes and they sure giggled a lot. I felt really uneasy but there was nothing I could do. Even if I closed my eyes, my ears were just incapable of not hearing their conversation. Even when they were just talking among themselves, I'd still find something worth reacting to (or smiling at), for the reason that I was their subject and they would make comments as if I was the last guy on earth and they would like to keep me for life (statements I also would have used on a cute guy I would harass if I were undersexed for a decade). Uh!
"San kaya bababa si gWahFu? Ah, baka sa Wah Fu rin kasi sabi nya sa Aberdeen ang office nya eh."
Uh, and she was right: I'd really get off at Wah Fu because my office is in Aberdeen (and so I should live nearby)! She wasn't guessing, but linking the bits and pieces of info I've fed them.
And when they were about to get off, the best actress would cry as if she had lost someone really dearly. I smiled to that and told myself: good riddance finally!
But just when I thought that the curtain has been drawn and it was time for me to pick up the pieces of my harrassed self, one final hurrah from them came in. From the side of the street they waived like I was some red-carpet celebrity passing by.
And I just don't know why I waived back.
Me lately
There are so many things I wanted to write about but I just don’t have the bandwidth to put them all into writing. I wanted to write about our trip to the giant Buddha in Lantau Island, the other discoveries, my experience at the recent trade show, new things I’ve learned from TV, new shows I’ve been watching lately, and other updates about my life. My mind is conceiving so many thoughts but there’s just so little time to catch up with the flux of ideas. My mouth is itching to talk about these thoughts but there’s also a scarcity of ears in this busy, busy world.
Work. Lately I’ve been swamped with tons of paperwork that by the time I finish one project, two more get added. It’s like a never-ending saga of flyers, excels and ppts. I am usually quiet on my seat while working and you won’t hear me complain or make a big deal out of my workload, but I do manifest tension. The so-called saga is tough and difficult but at least it’s manageable and challenging. And I expect more challenges as I progress in this new field.
Family. I was a little tensed lately because I promised my three sisters that I’d shoulder their air tickets going here. So when I heard from my eldest sis this afternoon that they’re cancelling their June trip here, I felt I was relieved and thought for a second that I would finally get the chance to buy that Dell PC I’ve been eyeing for the longest time. But when I read the next line of her email telling me that they’re trading in their trip for a good cause – something that will “benefit the common good” – I began to get tensed again. Apparently, the money I left in Feb wasn’t enough to cover the renovation expenses for the house. Uh-oh…
Social Life. It’s not that I really have one since +honhon+ left for Pinas. But it’s worth to note that we’ll be having a farewell party for two of our (can now officially be referred to as former) colleagues – Lou and Charlie – on Friday night. I’m just excited to see them again – especially Lou who’s really been the life of every party – after a week they’ve said goodbye. And I am equally excited that our team has chosen an Egyptian restaurant for that celebration. Gosh, I do have high expectations on the menu!
Travel. I’ve booked myself three weeks ago for an early May trip to Pinas and I’m not sure if I still have a standing reservation. I need to speak with my agent on Saturday about the availability of seats and rates. I want to go to the beach and I’m torn between Pagudpod and Nasugbu. Of course, they don’t compare when it comes to ambience – it’s like comparing apples with cantaloupes – but distance surely matters in such a short, short vacation.
Festivity. A festival just started today and will end on the 7th of May. Well, at least that’s what the TV commercials say. Life inside the office is keeping me from witnessing the events in various temples (we’re celebrating the birthdays of various religious icons – I hope I’m guessing it right). I’ll see if I can attend some of the festivities this weekend.
Interests. Read the ad campaign and tell me if I need say more. “9th Hong Kong Lifeguards Grand Parade and Beach Games Championships. Watch more than 300 hunky lifeguards parade around in their Speedos and compete in a Beach Games Tournament. Expect volleyball, tug-of-war, swim races and, who knows, perhaps a sandcastle competition. April 23, Repulse Bay Beach.” Wuhoo!
Ocean Park
After months of waiting, ang Ocean Park na dinadaan daanan ko lang ay napasok na rin. Bus pa lang super excited na kami ni +honhon+ about our adventure. We promised ourselves to maximize our day. Nung sa Disney kasi medyo late kami nagising kaya 11am na kami nakapasok and kulang pala yun to tour around and take all the rides.
Five minutes before 10AM nandun na kami nakapila for the tickets. Kung alam lang namin na 930AM pala sya nagbubukas pag holidays e mas inagahan pa namin siguro. Pero oks lang din kasi mabilis naman ang pila, medyo intrimida nga lang yung mag-ina na nasa harapan ko.
Pagpasok namin medyo naturete na kami kung saan dapat pumunta kaya hala, sunod lang kami sa mga tao. Nung may nakita kaming pila, nakipila na rin kami. Napadpad kami sa Wild Whiskers Ride na may special fee na HKD10 per head. Virtual roller coaster ride sya na mas nakakatakot siguro kung pitch black yung buong theater and not visible yung foot lights at yung mga tao sa loob. Ok na rin, para kaming na-back massage sa likot ng upuan.
Ewan namin kung fixated lang kami sa long queues kasi nung meron ulit kaming nakitang pila, super pila na rin kami. Turned out pila pala yun sa cable car to the high land. (Ang Ocean Park kasi is divided into two: low land and high land. And the only means of transportation is the cable car—unless mag-eexit ka ng theme park at magbu-bus para dun pumasok sa kabilang entrance gate or mag-trek ka sa hills with matching swimming sa dagat). Tingin kami sa map. Found out mas maraming attractions sa high land so go na rin kami kahit na hindi pa namin nalibot yung low land. Sayang rin kung aalis kami sa pila kasi exponential ang pagdami ng tao.
Medyo mahaba ang cable car ride kaya initially inaliw na lang namin ang sarili namin sa pag-okray sa chekwa couples na kasama namin. From their looks, malamang highshool freshies yung mga yun at first major date nila ang pagpunta sa Ocean Park. Habang ako ay nag-eenjoy sa site seeing (feeling fascinated sa merging ng water, hills and skies), si +honhon+ naman ay balisang hinihigpitan ang kapit sa handle bar. Nun ko lang na-confirm, mas takot sya sa heights. Hehe. Di raw nya kaya tingnan yung mala-Vertical Limit na babagsakan namin in case mapatid yung kable.
Nung nasa high land na kami, di ko alam kung nang-iinis ako or gusto ko lang i-overcome ang fear of heights nya kasi next na pinilahan namin ay yung Tower. Basically iaakyat ka ng ilang palapag then iikot kayo na parang disk, allowing you a full 360-degree view of the entire Aberdeen island. Di naman sya inatake ng phobia kaya good choice na rin.
Next stop was at Pacific Pier na kung saan makikita ang ilang seals and other aquatic animals. Mahirap palang picture-an ang mga seals. Masyadong mabilis lumangoy. Kung magpho-photographer ako sa National Geographic siguro training pa lang bagsak na ko!
After that we went to Middle Kingdom (via the longest escalator I’ve ever seen) na kung saan merong five or six attractions. Sabi ko gusto kong mag-Mine Train so super pila kami. Nung makita ni +honhon+ na mala-roller coaster ride ang mine train, mega backout sya. At syempre hindi ako pumayag. Kaya yung almost 45-minute na pagpila namin ay minaximize ko para ma-convince sya. In the end, pumayag naman.
Shiyet! He has every reason to back out pala. Sabi sa brochure thrilling ang ride. Sana minention rin sa brochure na thrilling to the tenth power ang dapat naming i-expect! Bukas ang mata ko all throughout and nakita ko ang twists and turns namin na in case something goes wrong e bangin ang babagsakan namin (yung trails kasi ay nasa top ng hill). Shiyet talaga! The exciting part was the candid shots after ng ride. Sabi namin dapat naka-smile pa rin kami (unlike the pic we had at Disney na pikit pareho at scared to death ang hitsura). Nung tumigil ang train tinawanan na lang namin ang aming thrilling experience.
Since fierce ang competition sa pagpila, we wasted no time matapos ang Mine Train ride. Takbo agad kami sa Raging River na almost 45 minutes rin ata ang waiting time. It was another thrilling experience pero this time safer kasi tubig ang lalagapakan mo at hindi rocks. Swerte ako kasi may dala akong jaket. Si +honhon+ basang basa nung umahon. Kawawang bata. Natuwa kami sa candid shots namin so bili naming kahit na mahigit P500 yung isang kopya (good deal na rin kasi yung sa Disney was more expensive).
Then naalala namin na hindi pala namin na-purchase yung pic namin sa Mine Train. Balik kami dun. Tinanong kami nung babae mga ilang minuto na raw nung sumakay kami. Sabi namin about an hour. Aba ang loka, tinamad maghanap. Marami daw tao ang sumakay na mula nung natapos kami at wala na daw yung litrato namin. Kung gusto daw namin ng souvenir eh sumakay ulit kami. NakNang! Alam ba nya sinasabi nya? Sya kaya isalang ko dun twice? Ewan ko lang kung maalala pa nya pangalan nya pagkatapos ng kanyang thrilling ride!?
After that we decided to eat muna. Pila kami dun sa nag-iisang diner sa tabi ng Pacific Pier. Maikli naman ang pila pero grabe ang tagal! Promise, almost an hour kami nag-antay! Tapos nung turn ko na e hindi daw available yung meal na gusto namin! Sabi naming we’ll wait na lang, kesa naman kumuha kami ng ibang meal at mag-init lalo ulo namin sa tagal ng pinila. Kaya yun, 10minutes ulit of waiting.
After kumain we went to the Dolphin and Sea lion show na kumain na naman n gaming precious time. After the show takbo na kami sa Abyss. And pikit-mata na lang um-oo si +honhon+ for that ride. Grabe, isa na naming thrilling ride. Feeling namin ginawa kaming yoyo na akyat-baba sa ere (one moment asa baba kami ng hill; the next eh eye level na naming)! After that ride eh na-injure na ata si +honhon+. Sumakit daw braso nya sa pagkakakapit sa handle bar. And since meron nang injury, di na namin naiakyat to the next level ang aming thrilling experience (no more roller coaster at Eagle).
Andami pang rides na hindi namin nasakyan pero 45 minutes na lang ang natitira at parang may trauma pa kami sa Mine Train so we decided na magpunta na lang sa Atoll Reef and gaze at other marine life. Paglabas naming dun kagulo na mga tao kasi parang last two minutes lahat ng rides. Super haba ng mga pila at panay nagtatakbuhan lahat to make it dun sa cut-off. We decided to see the new and much-advertised Sea Jelly. Grabe, one hour ang pila at nangalay kami sa pagtayo. Pagpasok naming, worth it rin naman pala.
After that we went back to the low land via the cable car. At dun ko na-feel na nakakatakot nga yung cable car kasi dalawa na lang kami at almost liwanag lang ng buwan ang ilaw namin. Parang mas matagal ang byahe this time.
Pagdating sa low land obviously eh sarado na ang mga rides kaya nagkasya na lang kami sa pagtingin ng mga visitor pics ng Ocean Park. Antagal na pala ng park. Merong mga pics dun na black & white pa and yung mga damit ay pang-oldies talaga. We wished na mag-iwan ng pics dun pero hindi naman gawain ng “celebrities” yun so di na lang naming tinuloy.
Indeed, nabitin kami sa Ocean Park experience kaya we promised na babalik kami soon!
Super fab
These past few days have been fabulous! How fab? Supersized fab! So fab that I almost forgot I’m a resident here and not a tourist, thanks to +honhon+’s visit! In 10 days, we were able to see a lot places and accomplish so many things together (kung hindi pa naman e ewan ko na lang!?).
We went out with Kat, had a really cheap Indian meal at Tung Chung, explored the Giant Buddha in Lantau Island (though, unfortunately, we only had a dozen shots because by the time we reached the temple, the digicam’s battery ran out), got a steel table for my fridge and microwave, cooked together, revisited Tsim Sha Tsui, wandered around the Avenue of Stars, did real shopping, finished season 2 of Queer as Folk (and laughed at Emmet’s antics), visited Stanley Market, went beach hopping (2-hour picnic at Deep Water Bay and a 15-minute swim at Stanley Main Beach), re-lived our dating days in Luneta (but this time venue was at Kowloon Park), discovered the most fabulous public pool there is (found in Kowloon side), went bargain-hunting at Temple St., rode the cable car and visited Ocean Park.
I didn’t think we could pack in all those things in 10 days! It’s just so fab!
Yey! Yey! Yuhu! Yap! Yap! Yehoom!
Kulang pa ‘yan to describe how ecstatic I am about the next few days. Well, who wouldn’t be ecstatic eh paparating lang naman si +honhon+ dito?! After so many bato-bato picks kung sino ang pupunta kanino, we’ve decided two weeks ago na sya na nga lang ang lumipad dito. Medyo hirap na rin kasi akong mag-impake, kumuha ng OEC, at tumakbo sa airport after a ngaragan day in the office (not to mention nahihiya na rin akong magpapirma ng leave form).
So ayun, sya naman hinayaan kong mamroblema sa pagpapa-approve ng leave nya, pagbili ng tiket at pag-asikaso sa iba pang travel-related chores. Ilang araw din nya inantay na magkaron ng slot sa eroplano kaya last week bumili na sya ng kahit anong tiket kahit na waitlisted pa cya sa flight na gusto namin. Ipapa-rebook na lang if ever. Mahirap na kasing maubusan, patayan daw kasi ngayon ang pagbili ng tikets. Oo nga naman, summer kasi!
By some divine intervention, natuwa ako when he texted yesterday afternoon that we got the flight we wanted, and no need to rebook or pay anything! Mukhang naawa yung agent dahil araw-araw syang nangungulit kung pumasok na name nya sa confirmation list. Since na-extend na ang oras ni +honhon+ dito, that would equate to more time, more things to do, and more...kain together. yey!
Two weeks ko pa ginawa ang 10-day travel itinerary nya and i'm really looking forward to having 10 days of bliss! Ocean Park, here we come!
And of course, the more the merrier dahil magpapang-abot pa si +honhon+ at si Kat! HK, eto na kaming tatlo! Yey! Yey! Yuhu! Yap! Yap! Yehoom!
Kaya tomorrow, habang holiday, kelangan ko mag-ayos ng bahay, mag-grocery at magpa-facial!
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