Sunday, June 10, 2012

Things I Pondered and Did on My Vacation


Going Home
I’m a little deaf, especially inside an airplane but as I entered the aircraft, one attendant greets me “Welcome abort!”

Do you wonder why airline personnel still demonstrate the aircraft’s emergency procedure when something that’s not going to occur defeats the course of action to take... when they say - “In an UNLIKELY event of an emergency landing…”

Ano Raw?
Upon landing at NAIA, I heard this announcement - “Pleas remen seated until the ehplen comes to a full stop befo dis embahking”. A few minutes later, another message, this time in an agitated tone - “Pleas remen seated an wet fo the ehplen to come to a full stop befo you stan up to get yo luggage from the ove’head compahment”

At the tube, attendants lined up, smiling and bidding us goodbye – “Think yo fo’ flying Singgapo ehlines”. Regardless of our stop-over in Dubai and walking endlessly on that huge Changi airport to our next flight; service wise, I still think it’s one of the best airline I ever flied.

Home Sweet Home
Nothing significant happened while I was in my hometown except going to beaches, attending a wedding of my wife’s nephew, wake of a departed aunt and of course our high school reunion.

I met most of my old classmates and thanks to Facebook, I recognized most of their faces and some of their names. We reminisced what we did during high school and one just can’t help put on a “show” of “how good life is” in her adopted city, Lohndohn. Later that day, when most had their fill of San Mig Light and brandy, old buddies clustered together and talked nothing but their health. Back pains, rheumatism, cholesterol and “daily maintenance” dominate the conversation. I’m the only guy who was silent and got nothing to share since my yearly medical data indicates all my “levels” are below “critical”. A classmate even told me I haven’t change since we graduated. He asked who my doctor is – “Si Calayan ba o si Bello?” We flew back to Manila the following day.

Shopping
At National Bookstore, I asked an employee if they have books by Carl Sagan. She typed in the computer the author’s name to see their stocks and then said “What’s the title of the book?”  I gave her the title and right away she said “We don’t have any books by Carl Sagan.”

In a Filipiniana boutique, I was admiring a polo barong with an embroidered map of the Philippines. The shop attendant approached me;
Saleslady - “Espesyal po ang barong na yan. Mismong kanang-kamay ng may-ari ng shop ang nag design at gumawa.”
Me           - “Ganun ba, ang galing naman. E anong nagawa ng kanyang kaliwang kamay?”
She paused for a few seconds, trying to absorb what I just said. It took a lopped-sided smile before she got it and began giggling in a high-pitch voice. I bought the barong.

Going Back
This time I’m pretty sure I wasn’t deaf. I definitely heard the attendant said – “Welcome abort”!

16 comments:

  1. Sabi ko na nga ba eh, familiar sa akin ang greetings na 'yon. Hahah! Pinaka-favourite kong sakyan ang Singapore Airlines, 'yan po kasi ang pinaka-convenient from Adelaide-Singapore-Davao. Natutuwa rin ako kasi bago gumapang ang plane, "Hot towel Sir?! Hot towel Sir?" o",)

    I remember you posted something about class reunion before, I am glad you attended your HS class reunion.

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    1. From riyadh to dubai to singapore to manila, they gave hot towel every time the airplane took off. Namula ang pisngi ko sa kakapunas ng hot towel. : D

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  2. hahaha ang galing mong mag summarize ng vacation post mo. covered all the bases ika nga.

    i also love singapore airlines kahit 2x pa lang akong nakause nito.

    ready for work again?????

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    1. Wala na ang "jet lag" but I still got some "vacation hang-over". : )

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  3. ha ha ha habang binabasa ko parang naririnig ko :D

    also, i was laughing about that exchange with the shop attendant. para ka ring si Papsie.

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    1. Mas masayang mag shopping pag ganito ang mga salesladies. >: D

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  4. At National Bookstore, I asked an employee if they have books by Carl Sagan. She typed in the computer the author’s name to see their stocks and then said “What’s the title of the book?” I gave her the title and right away she said “We don’t have any books by Carl Sagan.”

    This totally cracked me up! Hahahaha, nagtanong pa siya ng title, naku! Hahahhaa... How did the vacation go?

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    1. The vacation's fine. We went to a beach here, we went to a beach there. We visited an aunt here and another there. All in all, my family enjoyed it. : )

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  5. Looked like you had a well-deserved and enjoyable vacation back home. Sino nga ba ang doctor mo, si Calayan o si Bello?

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    1. LOL! None of the above. I think it got something to do with one's lifestyle and the food one eats. Frankly speaking, some of my classmates, especially those living abroad, looks younger than their counterpart in the Philippines.

      But then again, they're also the ones who can afford to see a Calayan or a Bello. >: D

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  6. UMUWI KA RITO AT HINDI KA MAN LANG NAGPARAMDAM SA AKIN? ganoon? ganoon? at ni hindi ko nakilala si misis at si bea? ganoon?

    okay, di na kita friend. tse!

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    1. Ikaw naman. Alam mo namang hindi kami taga Menila. Sa susunod 'kaw na lang kaya ang pumuntang Kalibo pag uwi namin. E reason out mo na lang na may pina follow-up kang scoop sa Boracay. : )

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  7. aba, magandang plano iyan. maraming magagandang resort malapit sa inyo. hindi kasing crowded ng boracay. maganda rin sigurong mag-fishing doon. :)

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    1. O sige, it's a date. Remind me once in a while kung kelan ako uuwi. But definitely, next year.

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  8. kailan ka babalik?

    pupunta kami ni atticus sa kalibo.

    (as if nagmeet na kami hehehe)

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    1. Next year, pa schedule ka kay atticus, para sabay kayong pumunta. Para na ring reunion ng mga blogpals, diba. : )

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