[/caption]At long last, I have finally found the right time to actually blog. Thank God!
As you all know, I am currently in my homeland, the Philippines, for my short but sweet 2-week vacation leave. Yes, that's about 14 days of "R and R" with my family, friends, former co-workers and naughty neighbors. I opted to take such a swift vacation in order to preserve my dying savings account. *sigh*
Well, after watching the movie "Eat. Pray. Love." starring Julia Roberts about a month ago, I suddenly realized that my vacation should focus and revolve on those 3 words: "Eat" the cuisines that I like, "Pray" as much as I can, and "Love" like there's no tomorrow. I know, I know. The last one's quite impossible but let me explain, please?
[caption id="attachment_1372" align="aligncenter" width="472" caption="Native Desserts? Yummy!"]
[/caption]Eat. I haven't been doing anything but eat. The edibles kept on coming and coming and it turns out that I haven't been eating right for the past 2 years or so. A former co-worker of mine was flabbergasted to see how much weight I seriously lost. "Paulo! Grabe, pumayat ka! Anong ginagawa mo dun sa Egypt?" she exclaimed outside a famous coffee shop. I shrugged her comment stating the obvious fact that I have been doing straight night shifts, plus the indecent gossip roaming the hospital premises. Haha. :-D
This part also entails learning how to cook a few simple recipes that would boost my life's Curriculum Vitae. With the help of my trusty yet perky mother, I am currently learning how to prepare scrumptious meals and award-winning viands that would aid me and my not-that-good eating habits. Bon Appetite!
[caption id="attachment_1373" align="aligncenter" width="472" caption="Monasterio de Santa Clara, Quezon City"]
[/caption]Pray. I am a devout Catholic since birth and I am very fond of attending mass at any given day, preferably Sundays so I thought of doing a sort of pilgrimage or something in order to recharge my spiritual energy. I've been to the Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church inside the UST grounds and the famous Monastery of Saint Clare along the C-5 Katipunan Avenue. I also plan to visit the Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage-Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Antipolo, City by the end of the week. Woohoo! Road trip, anyone?
[caption id="attachment_1374" align="aligncenter" width="475" caption="My Naughty Cousins!"]
[/caption]Love. This is the tricky part. Where should I begin. Hmmm. Well, this does not necessarily mean that I am to "fall in love" with anyone in particular while I am in Manila. Although I wish that would happen some time soon (*fingers-crossed*). Nevertheless, I plan to strengthen my ties with the people who love me for who I am without any restrictions or hidden agendas. They are the chosen few who will listen to what I say regardless of their personal biases and social status because of the things that we have done for each other in the past. Yes, I was not able to greet them during their birthdays or give them cool things from Egypt but it does not matter. It's the time and effort that I have shown while I am amidst them that truly counts.
To my one and only best friend, Ma. Carina Camacho: Thank you for the instantaneous yet fruitful lunch at Taco Bell. It was a blast. To Earl Paulo Diaz: Thank for the wonderful dinner at Teriyaki Boy. I needed that.
So, what now? Aside from the fact that I'm currently broke and I still have tons of friends to meet, I plan on staying at home to chill and unwind my young but wounded body. Haha. *grin*
*****
See you in a few days, Cairo. I know you missed me!
Coffee, anyone?
No comments:
Post a Comment