lifeisacelebration

Found this draft written sometime in 2021 quite amusing if not demanding of self-reflection. Have a read:

“With this global pandemic, where are you going? A donde vas? Well on its second year now, with 2nd and 3rd waves surging across the globe, we’ve been confined to our private sanctuaries. Back home, my outings haven’t even gone past my fingers and that full tank of diesel in my car has been sitting there for months. Dust accumulate over the car’s hood and roof, and the tire marks in the garage have grown into permanent stains. What to do, what to do? Dreams of being out on a beach with sand between our toes remain in the drawing boards. Simple joys like eating out with friends, grocery shopping and spa visits are now luxuries, even unsafe. I even miss my dentist of late. If they take away internet now, I’d likely go insane and unhappy. That’s my reality now. Maybe yours too. But I remain grateful for still being around, reading books and watching all the movies i missed on Netflix and discovering Asian drama on Viu. Oh, the things I miss!

Once this pandemic blows over, I doubt travel will be the same. I’m only too glad I never hesitated to go whenever I could in the past 2 decades. I never regretted I quit my job way too early “to have a life”. I still smile over that one time I flew in from Vietnam one early morning, and flew out on same day — within 12 hours! — for Vienna to join up with friends. Drinking beer with them at 9am said a lot about how I felt then. Six airports, switching planes, many hours waiting at departure lounges and crossing time zones — all within a day. Mind you, I even stayed behind — alone — after they’ve all left. That spontaneity may be forever lost given today’s health protocols and travel bans.

It’s true that we have slowly adapted to our restricted lifestyle now. The big challenge is what to do, where to go AFTER all these settle down. Life is a multiple choice but the choices have been narrowed down to a short list. Flights aren’t that inexpensive now and bookings for accommodations may need more considerations outside of location, price and comfort. Destinations must consider safety protocols and those travel advisories will now be more keenly observed. For sure, crowded spots — those tourist traps — are big NO NOs. That may well include major cities, by the way.

I remember easing my boredom some years back while homebased in Madrid. Having done most day trips out of the Spanish capital, I found myself checking the supply sources of basic grocery products like garlic, turrones, vino, etc. Pretty soon, I’m on a train or bus going off to spots under the tourist radar searching for the best garlic and enjoying anise-flavoured bread and cafe cortado in Chinchon. Then there’s the famous grilled turbot called Rodaballo a la plancha from a fishing village in Getaria, the Arròs a Banda from Alicante, the strawberries from Aranjuez or the turrones de Cuenca. With friends, I repeated this same adventure when we visited Modena, Italy and brought home many bottles of Balsamico. I am now re-reading Peter Mayle’s “French Lessons” and “A Year in Provence” — solid guides for foodies and adventurers seeking local customs and events.

Offhand, I’m leaning towards the coastal towns of Spain, the less popular towns in Provence, the southern parts of Italy, a number of national parks in America, the uncrowded beaches in Hawaii and some uncharted spots in Hokkaido. Back home, I’m still searching for a safe, comfortable beach house I can drive to from time to time. Or maybe a lake house somewhere in Laguna. I envy a friend who has since moved out of the city and settled in a house where every sunrise and sunset gives her joy. The view of the Laguna de Bay from her porch and all that breeze is a major bonus. “