Category: Musings & Ramblings


Our South American Adventure

Filed under: Chile, Musings & Ramblings, Patagonia, Peru, South America, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
May 11, 2024

Planned years ago but then, the pandemic threw a monkey wrench on our travel calendar for 2020. Postponed a couple of times, we finally managed to pull through this 2024 minus some friends originally in the list. We’ve settled on Chile and Peru but not without some major iti changes like dropping Atacama Desert and instead including Patagonia. We were also close to implementing “Plan B” as half in our group have not obtained Chilean visas a good week before the trip. In the end, all of us but one got our visas. The one who didn’t just caught up with us in Peru for the second leg of the trip.

Santiago, Chile

While I spent 3 weeks in Sydney prior to this South American adventure, I caught up with the group at the Sydney Airport for our trip to Santiago, Chile. They flew in from Manila for the connecting flight Down Under. The others chose to fly in to Chile from California. We also planned to enjoy 3 rest days prior to the start of the tour to rev up our energy, especially considering that this travel itinerary involves 6 domestic and regional flights. And that does not include a 10 hour bus ride from Cusco to Puno. Thinking back, it sure is a hectic, tiring and challenging journey. Only our excitement and sworn resolve to endure were going for us. And true, the familiarity and tested friendship helped along.

Lago Pehoe in Patagonia

The second leg of the journey spawned a few health concerns. Altitude sickness hit some of us especially as we moved from Cusco towards Lake Titicaca. It helped that the novelty and the magnificent scenery helped us endure some ailments, and that our hotels were well-prepared and accustomed to deal with such adversities. Not to be dismissed is the fact that we had very good guides in Patagonia, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Puno. We drew a lot of comfort in that. As we dwelled on our travel joys and woes, we all agreed that while the trip is longer and more tiring than most of our previous travels, we totally enjoyed it as the spots we visited are simply magical and breathtaking.

Lunch in Cusco

Here’s the blog summary of our adventures in Chile and Peru.

Touchdown, Santiago de Chile

A Neruda Kind of Day

Flying Into Patagonia

Torres del Paine, Chilean Side

Back In Lima, Peru

Segunda Vez En Machu Picchu

Getting High in Cusco (2017)

Higher Up in Lake Titicaca

Except for my piece on Cusco, all other blog links refer to our recent (2024) trip. It has been a while since I’ve done a really lengthy trip — this time, crossing 3 timezones. From Down Under (Sydney) to South America (Chile and Peru) to Italy. Watch out for my blogs on our Italian holiday with Nieto y Nieta. It’s a rather short one but never lacking in new adventures. After all, there is always something new to do or check out in Italy. Ciao!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Segunda Vez en Machu Picchu

Filed under: Musings & Ramblings, Peru, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
April 22, 2024

The first time was in 2017 to celebrate my birthday in a country that has been in my bucket list far too long. And Machu Picchu has been listed for the longest time, waiting to be ticked off! This time around, I made sure I’m in the best of health to truly enjoy this magical Incan citadel, only to learn I unfortunately have high altitude issues. Not as bad as it was 7 years ago, but it was concerning enough to make me mindful. When our guide led the group to climb up further for a better view, I begged off and waited solo for them to climb down and fetch me — after nearly an hour in a spot with no shade but with a fantastic view of the citadel. You bet I took endless photos to a point I confused myself which images to keep. And with so many tour groups passing and pausing in my spot, I must have heard 5 versions of the Machu Picchu mystery.

Stayed the night in this hotel in Sacred Valley before the Machu Picchu visit.

The last time I was here, I was struck with altitude sickness. Guess what? I had it again. But this time, milder. The 2017 episode must have messed up my mind as I wasn’t prepared for it and honestly didn’t know what to do. This time around, I had more confidence despite the migraine, racing heartbeat and low oxygen levels. My oxymeter says oxygen dropping to 70 but I made some breathing exercises and managed to elevate it to 80+, still below the 95 level but the quick relief gave me comfort. When it dropped below 70, I thought the gadget wasn’t functioning right but knowing the brain is affected by lack of oxygen, I headed to the hotel’s reception and asked for an oxygen tank. Voila. Problem solved. And unlike before, I stayed calm so my heartbeat was better managed below 100. (It raced to 127 well past my bedtime back in 2017) All’s well!

At the start of the hike, our guide led us uphill “for a better view”. I kept nudging him to ask how much further and higher, but this excitable guide kept saying I’d get the energy from the Incan Citadel to forge ahead! Naaaaah. I put my foot down and reminded him that I have a heart condition and would not climb any higher. This is my second visit here and knew it wasn’t necessary to climb up for a better view. No way. The view I see is perfect for me. I just couldn’t have it better. Best view without the struggle! So the rest of the troop climbed higher and came back for me after an hour – in a spot that could do with some shade. I drained my tube of sunblock and must have smelled sweet enough for a swarm of bees to chase me some half hour while waiting.

We may not have solved the “mystery” of Machu Picchu but everyone in the group was very happy for the experience. Tired. Yes. Fatigued. Yes. But just the thought that we finally got here after 5 years of planning — with all the mishaps — made us all feel fulfilled. Yes, I think that’s what it felt like. For me, the fact that I realized I have altitude issues renders me mindful on how I travel. Regrettably, I had to abstain from all the pisco sour cocktails and vino. Drank myself to nearly drowning point 😂 that it disturbed my sleep. It was a struggle but I managed. I just feel bad skipping on the wine especially during happy hours. 😩

Tags: , , , , ,
Comment

Back in Peru (2024)

Filed under: lima, Musings & Ramblings, Peru, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
April 20, 2024

From Patagonia, we flew back to the capital of Santiago, Chile and then switched airports and took an international flight to Lima, Peru. Long drives, a domestic flight and a regional/international flight in a single day. All endured with a smile as we excitedly prepped for our way towards Machu Picchu, obviously the highlight of our Andean adventure. But first, Lima for a couple of nights. The Plaza de Armas in the Centro Hispanico, the famous “kiss” statue in the Love Park or Parque de Amor, the Parque Kennedy with its many resident cats, the Basilica Catedral de Lima and the Basilica y Convento de San Francisco (with the catacombs!), Larcomar for shopping and dining along the Pacific Ocean. If you’re booked in a hotel within or around Miraflores, you’d enjoy exploring the area with its tiny shops and sangucherias like La Lucha near Parque Kennedy — exactly as I remember them back when I first visited in 2017. I was eager to once more try the Pisco Sour, the chicha morada, lomo saltado, suspiro de lucuma, chirimoya, lechon sandwiches, chicharones and Inca Cola.

Barkada Photo at Parque de Amor
under the Beso Statue

It was hot and humid but with a slight breeze. The men donned their shorts while the ladies wore their cotton shirts and sun dresses. Walked ahead of the group and skipped half of the catacombs tour, which I’ve done in 2017 and have no interest revisiting again. The other spots within the Centro Hispanico with all its colonial architecture — this I like. The only thing I failed to visit again in Lima is the fruit market where I enjoyed the sweetest chirimoya ever! Also, I wouldn’t mind a trip to Barranco to imbibe its more bohemian vibes and to try one of the Michelin-ranked restos in the capital. (Our Chilean visa issues threw a monkey wrench on our usual travel plans.)

Lima may not require many days to cover but it has its own charm. If you’re planning ahead, do make those restaurant reservations well ahead of time. This place is pure gastronomy where meat and seafood rank supreme. We didn’t do so badly in this department despite the lack of dining itinerary. Our last dinner as a group at Punta Azul in Miraflores was all seafood, wine and rice — as in all kinds of rice! Tried chicharonnes, pulpo, ceviche, scallops, and 4 rice dishes. Man, these Asians missed their rice!!!

Yummy sandwiches here — like lechon and chicharon! And the best fries.
Dinner at Punta Azul. 👍
Tags: , , , , , ,
Comment

Heading South. Really South.

Filed under: Chile, Musings & Ramblings, Phlog, South America, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
April 9, 2024

Have you been to Punta Arenas? How about Puerto Natales to check out the Chilean side of Patagonia? Torre del Paine and the calving glaciers of Balmaceda y Serrano are certainly NOT to be missed. (But that segment of the trip deserves a separate blog.) And right now, I’m just too confused what to write about. Too many highlights! This trip to Chile has had its varied stressful episodes — like delayed visa issuances, many changes in itinerary, postponement from an originally-scheduled trip in 2020, 5 years in planning and all of 8 domestic, regional and international flights (including Peru) on this trip but we are not complaining. 😉

Punta Arenas. Flew from Santiago to this southern tip of the narrowest, longest country in the world.
Hi there. Or as they say here, Hola!

Snow-capped mountains, the bluest waters, glaciers, waterfalls and fields of alfalfa. Plus the wildlife. Andean condors, armadillos, sheep, Patagonian horses, fox and guanacos. And if you’re seriously into wildlife, there are whales, sea lions, penguins, pumas, and flamingoes. Frankly, we’re quite happy seeing the Andean condors. Nature at its best!

Replica of the NAO Victoria , the first ship to circumnavigate the world.

After some days resting our butts in Santiago, Chile we flew south to Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. The Chilean Patagonia. We had good luck and timed it perfectly in the weather department. While temps hovered between negatives and positive 7 Celsius, the sun was out the 5 days we were here. Every mountain peak showed up! Even the clouds parted into unique patterns, letting the sun beam for better-lighted snapshots. Slight showers, snow flurries, but only for brief moments. And those peaks and valleys showed up in all its clear glory, making photography buffs in our group grow insanely excited and happy. Same goes with the camwhores who have stacked up megabytes in their photo galleries. Our gizmo’s batteries drained and storage full. But that slight setback was ignored completely as we just couldn’t move on from the landscapes, seascapes we saw before us. Nothing can upset my dreamy Patagonia vibes here. The clouds above and the rolling waves from both the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans cheered us up. The Strait of Magellan was a good reminder of how Magellan discovered this southern Chilean strip before navigating onwards to discover the Philippine Islands in the 1520’s. Hmmm, we share some history here. And it’s interesting how we each “turned out”.

The Barkada in Fundo San Fernando where we had a soupy beef dish that reminded us of pochero.
Hiking is always a happy adventure for this group.
At Fundo San Fernando’s Parque Keuken

For many of our meals, lamb ruled. Ranchos and estancias provided meaty dishes with portions overly generous that carnivores may choose to live here. As for seafood, I enjoyed their ceviches, pulpo, and filete de cormoran. Been searching for the “Chilean sea bass” but it appears this is pure branding since the real fish is simply referred to as corvina just like the dorado or salmon commonly available. For sure, they grow real sweet tomatoes and onions — just these 2 sprinkled with olive oil and salt enough to prep your appetite. Coffee was a disappointment though, at least those served in our hotels. I rather expected strong, quality coffee thinking Colombia is in the same region. Thus, our morning runs included trips to cafés to pick up our morning brew. This in seriously chill mornings where the sun rises at 7:30 am.

Across our lovely hotel in Puerto Natales is this park fronting the sea.

Between Punta Arenas where the airport is located and Puerto Natales where Torre del Paine can be found, is a nearly 3 hour drive. It must be lonely driving these well-paved roads in winter. But on second thought, those towers covered in snow in all its resplendent beauty can’t fail to cheer anyone up. Just lovely.

Tags: , , , , ,
Comment

A Neruda Kind of Day

Filed under: Chile, Musings & Ramblings, poetry, South America, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
April 8, 2024

From an urban landscape to rustic villages lining the coast of the longest and narrowest country in the world, it took nearly 2 hours driving from Santiago to Isla Negra. One of Chile’s famous citizens was Pablo Neruda, a poet and I must add, a full-blooded romantic. Makes me wonder if all poets are indeed romantics. His two-storey house in Isla Negra is one of 3 — the other two can be found in Santiago and Valparaiso. The one in Isla Negra is an oceanfront lovely house filled with curio and childhood souvenirs that give you a better appreciation of Señor Pablo.

There are 14 “stations” where the audio guide details the items found in each. Here’s one audio guide I truly enjoyed. Whoever crafted the narratives are so good that one feels the sentimental values and laugh at the humor just listening to the well-articulated descriptions. The rooms and halls are a tad tiny — as Neruda wanted a house designed like a boat — which enhanced a visitor’s personal encounter. Most rooms have large glass windows facing the Pacific Ocean where waves wildly crash the boulders. It was almost violent but still a lovely sight that must have inspired many of Neruda’s poems.

It is a pity that photography is not allowed inside the house. But someone in our group snapped some photos which I’m sharing here. If I were bold enough, I would have taken a picture of the bedroom with its crocheted bedcovers and the living room which looked more like an antique shop. Oh, there’s also the small writing room which Señor Pablo considered his “refuge” and where many of his poems were written. I can just imagine him seated behind that desk, staring at the ocean and listening to the sound of waves . As one steps outside the house, the cold wind slaps your face and perks your senses awake. Sitting still on the benches is a welcome luxury. Bathed in sunlight and lightly sprayed with ocean mist, the outdoor spots truly offer a meditative break — a pleasure.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Touchdown, Santiago de Chile

Filed under: Food Trip, Musings & Ramblings, Phlog, South America, Travel, travels — 1 Comment
April 5, 2024

Finally joined up with my travel buddies who flew in from Manila to Sydney to catch a connecting flight into Santiago, Chile. The Qantas flight from Down Under took 12 hours where I hardly had a wink. Shouldn’t complain since my buddies endured another 8 hours plus all the waiting time at the 2 airports for a gruelling 28 hours. By the time we landed in the country’s capital, we were all wasted. But pleasant weather welcomed us in Santiago, named after one of our favorite saints. Hearing and speaking Spanish is both familiar and a struggle for many of us, but the excitement balances all sentiments and dulls the anxieties.

Our Pisco Sour and Empanada Outing on Day 1
Cool early evenings. Perfect cocktail hours.

A very manageable walking distance from our hotel is the Costanera Mall in the quiet, posh neighborhood of Providencia. That’s how we spotted La Pikada along with the laundromat we’d use before we move out of the capital on Day 6. The Mall is huge, houses over 300 stores and the Sky Tower which is touted as the highest sky deck in South America. It’s a good place for shopping and some dining. We tried a bistecca and empanadas here before walking back to our hotel. The next day, we explored the city’s Mercado Central. Lunch was seafood in Donde Blanca amid stall after stall of clams and fish varieties from Merluza to dorado to salmon to a new find, Reineta (pomfret). The Resto transformed this assortment of sea creatures to stews, soup, ceviches or simply grilled. Paired well with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and a red vino. Meatless, on an Easter Week!

Donde Blanca Restaurant
A Seafood Stew. I’m all for clams, mussels and scallops.

We took it real easy the first 3 days. The hotel’s veranda is our designated spot for cocktails starting at 6pm. We exchanged notes especially on where to buy and dine at the end of each day. Dealing with jet lag is a struggle so the first 3 days took care of that. On the 4th day, we tried to cover as much of the city as possible. Still, we managed on a very leisurely pace. Well, it isn’t like we had to tick off all the boxes. We particularly enjoyed the stroll around the park. With an urban landscape as a background, it was refreshing to find ponds, gardens and kids’ playgrounds. It’s the city’s oxygen tank where nearly 40% of the nation’s population work and live.

Waiting for our seafood lunch
Fishy fishy Spot

Then there’s the Plaza Armas. A typical Latino square with the cathedral as the centrepiece. It is the heartbeat of the city from where many folks congregate, many eateries flourish and where many tourists never failed to visit as a must-destination. Buskers abound too, from singers to dancers to jugglers. And so do the resident pickpockets. Just the typical scenario in any capital. Cuidate!

Bicentario Parque
Plaza Armas

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Around Circular Quay

Filed under: Australia, Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
March 25, 2024

A stopover in Sydney demands at least one visit to the Circular Quay. Whether or not you’re riding the ferry, it’s mandatory to enjoy that view of the harbour, the bridge and the grand dame — the Sydney Opera House. Trust me, the joy of seeing this view never ever fades regardless how many times you’ve been here. Beats all Harbor views, in my book. And if all you have to do in Sydney is take ferry rides, you’d never run out of things to do. There are many spots around Sydney from where you can enjoy a view of the bridge and Opera House. Always a delight! And from the Quay, there are many walking paths — towards The Rocks, The Royal Botanical Garden, Museum of Contemporary Art ( Sydney Biennale ongoing), and Sydney Conservatorium of Music where I enjoyed a Lunch Break jazz concert.

Harbour Bridge
Lunch Break Jazz Concert

From the suburbs, I took the nearly hour’s ride to Circular Quay and on my second visit, I was delighted to encounter this mega-city of a boat called the Celebrity Edge. Many passengers starting to board for the nearly 2 week cruise to New Zealand. I was thrilled to see the boat as my friends and I have just booked a 12-night cruise in November this year. Huge! And I tried to imagine where our cabins would be. Exciting!

Celebrity Edge docked in Circular Quay
The Customs House. This is one spot I won’t miss during the Vivid Sydney season.

Meanwhile, there’s the Sydney Biennale in the Museum of Contemporary Art right around the quay. And on the other end, the Opera House, Conservatory and the Gardens. The latter offers truly blissful walks. And if you care to break the walk to enjoy some coffee and a pies or wraps, you’d easily spot a Café within the gardens.

Sydney Biennale 2024
A View of the Opera House from Cremorne Point

Easily, one can spend a whole day here without even taking a ferry ride. However, should you wish to take the ferry towards Manly, Watson’s or Mosman Bay, or just do the quick ride to Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Cremorne Point or wherever else, I’d advise you leave early enough to beat the crowds. We enjoyed our lunch in one of the restaurants in Gateway just behind the Quay Station Building, and witnessed the long lines at the wharves past noon. Enjoy!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Eat, Pray, Love. Repeat.

Filed under: Australia, Food Trip, Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
March 18, 2024

It’s nearly a week since I touched down in Sydney and there’s two more weeks to go before I join up with my travel buddies for our much-delayed, our pandemic-postponed trip to South America. Originally scheduled in 2020, our travel group has since been trimmed down to under 20 pax after all the postponements and the hassles of obtaining visas from Australia or USA and Chile. Crossing 3 time zones on this trip is a first for me. Why? Well, let me start with breaking my journey on the first leg — Manila to Sydney to Santiago, Chile. Took the chance to meet up with my folks here in Sydney before flying out to Chile. Wish I can head back here again on the return trip but hatched another plan to meet up with my elves in Venice, Italy. That means cutting short my Peru trip by a couple of days to fly to Venice via Madrid in time for the Biennale Venezia opening on April 20. Just thinking about all 3 legs of this journey and crossing several time zones give me so much excitement as well as jitters. You see, I booked a non-refundable flight from Lima to Venice just so I can claim the last seat out of Peru in time to be with my dear Nieto y Nieta (grandchildren). Also booked non-cancellable hotel nights in Venice, Italy during the Biennale opening well before hotel rates soar high or worse, when hotels get fully booked! All these while visas have yet to be issued. With fingers and toes crossed, the “Plan” is pushing through. By God’s grace, my elves got their Schengen visas and we’re good with flight and hotel bookings. All set!

The Grounds at Alexandria
Visiting my Sister & her Family Here

The first order of the day is my favorite brekkie in The Grounds of Alexandria. Still teeming with people on a Wednesday morning, still serving my fav flat white and good food but I’m not a fan of their Easter decor. Guess the kids won’t mind but this old lady was a tad disappointed. From this Wednesday’s touchdown to nearly a week after, it’s been a flurry of activities and food trips. One may say Aussie food is limited to steaks, chops and pies but I do love the coffee scene here. Besides, the city is so very culturally diverse that my folks have alternated to take me for meals at a Korean restaurant, a Japanese ramen house, along with Chinese, Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese food adventures.

Korean Dinner
Thai Dinner at Holy Basil in Canley Vale
Ramen at Makimoto in McArthur Square

It was hot when I arrived. Temps hover at 27-30 C. Of late, autumn is setting in along with showers in the afternoons or late nights. Time to clean and seal off our barbecue pits and time our laundry times to sunny days. But weekends are day trip days. My first weekend here took me to Bowral, just an hour’s drive away. Brunch was in The Press Shop, followed by check-ins at the village vintage shops. Rainy days mean ramen days as we took comfort in bowls of steaming broth and some sushi and dumplings. Grocery trips are fun especially since it’s a short walk from the house. With my family housed in 3 separate residences a few blocks from each other, my major decision each day is in whose house to dine 😉 My second home. I bet the next 2 weeks will fly by, only to be repeated later this year when I head back.

Brunch at The Press Shop in Bowral
Home Barbecues
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Comment

The Mundane Things To Enjoy

Filed under: Musings & Ramblings — 2 Comments
January 27, 2024

The adventures — the parties, travels, dinner dates, reunions, concert dates, birthdays — happen throughout the year and we mark them on our calendars like we live looking forward to such major events. But what about the daily routines? The trip to the groceries, picking out the bread, the coffee rituals in the mornings, the trips to the doctors and the lab, the church, the mundane stuff we do everyday?

Ratatouille Empanada & Blueberry Muffin

On a daily basis, I try to find a balance — praying a good hour in solitude , for others, and expressing my gratitude for many everyday blessings. Often, I grind, brew my own coffee and in my book, it’s my first luxury of the day that truly makes me happy. On alternate days I go and hang out on dates with my fun apos (grandchildren) and dear friends. The dynamics differ yet each gives me joy and satisfaction. You can’t ignore the fun, laughter and banter exchanged with my lifetime friends — the friends who know me inside and out. No pretensions. No holds barred. All boundaries crossed! Yet I find them most respectful of my private space and least bothered by my forgettable past and future plans. In our books, only US matter. As an Abuela to my elves, the bonding moments are precious. Just an hour over coffee or wine, and we’re cool. Happy hours every time. I reserve a day to devote to “compassion” like visiting, praying for a sick friend or relative, doing a good and surprise deed to someone who least expects it, and just simply remembering to be kind throughout the day. My theory is practicing to be kind can develop into a habit and later comprise one’s character. I admit I’m one straightforward person and holding my tongue is a skill to be acquired. I’m not exactly unkind but for the longest time, I preferred being honest than kind. At my age now, I’ve found ways of being kind without having to be dishonest. Another skill. The secret? Staying QUIET. And walking away. Not every thing requires a reaction. That I’ve learned in my late age. And the grudges? Easier to forgive as I still need to forget. But I’m getting there. 🙏

My semi-annual battery of tests
Tags: , , ,
Comment

Embracing 70

Filed under: Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
December 12, 2023

Rolling into my 70s made me aware of how much leftover energy remains, and how this sense of discovery has not waned through the years. Most importantly, I’ve nurtured this gift of joy for life’s blessings and felt more “in the moment”. As in becoming “present”. There was time enough to take care of older folks, play with the young ones, visit long-lost friends, discover new places and engage in new adventures. At 70, I observed I seldom ask why lately. Long discussions I find exhausting. And some stuff are best left unsaid. Like I don’t need any explanation. 😜 Had to unlearn some disciplines like attention to details. And this is where memory lapses come in real handy! Acceptance may not come easily when you forego the details, but it’s worth trying. Trust me. It’s like paying for something and skipping counting the change. I guess this is what that bestseller book meant “not to sweat the small stuff”. For me, this mantra works.

Hello, Everyone!

I love traveling and my bucket list keeps growing longer. I do not mind revisiting the places I’ve enjoyed especially when I’ve got new company. Like when I recently traveled to Provence with my grandchildren. Or revisiting Machu Picchu with a different set of friends yet with the same brand of excitement. The eagerness to meet family in Sydney as well as my friends in USA are always good ideas. And my grandchildren will most likely drag me to spots I’ve visited more than enough but which they’d be visiting for the first time. Like the recent trip to Italy. I just hope that somewhere in our future travel plans, I can squeeze in a few new spots that interest me. Sicily, Malta, Argentina, Brazil, Norway, Iceland, Poland and some parts of Croatia and neighbouring states. But then again, who cares about destinations at 70?

Nieto y Abuela

Consider yourself lucky that young people still want to travel with you. Their eagerness, enthusiasm, energy and mirth are enough to make any trip worthwhile. And there’s always something new to learn from them. In my book, embracing 70 compels one to stay healthy enough to keep pace with young travelers. To stay “cool” enough to understand that the world has changed and tolerance, humility and acceptance are key to truly harmonious relationships. Some mantras work real well. We need not react to everything. Simply put, kindness matters. No need to sweat the small stuff. At 70, one should have at least tried to unlearn stuff that just never worked well. Like honesty before kindness. Come on, was it really being honest or was it pride? Does it hurt too much to keep silent or to let things slide? At 70, I can pretend to have not heard or observed. Yeah. Smart people know when to act stupid. What for, you ask? For harmony. Mind you, it’s worth it.

Moments to cherish.
Tags: , , , , ,
Comment