VOYAGE DeTUDE

I have planned it long before...talk about over ten thousand seconds before I slept last night.

I was excited for the trip that I thought hard about what I'll wear...

(must be comfortable and a cap is a must, maybe an extra shirt might be needed too);

I scurried and hurried and dizzied my housemates as I prepared what to bring...

(alas! my trusted backpack will now be used again - among the essentials were my fully-charged Ixus 70, Bob Ong's Kapitan Sino, my daily journal, alcohol for germ-free hands, wet tissue, my red Fibrella umbrella and my red folding fan);

I consulted my journal and my memory for possible routes and stops...

(i have heard about the art exhibit, i might be lucky with the island trip now after the traumatic incident years ago, i heard that the old walled city offers ideal photographic scenes);

I slept quite early...

(err...earlier than usual but not as early as others' standard. i've lost count of sheeps because I counted over a thousand already and still nothing desirable happened. i did not mind. i won't be with any of the pictures anyway so i can deal with the eyebags. i fell asleep without me knowing)

Tomorrow came but i did not wake up on set time. I lingered with my sleepiness. Whoa! I suddenly was awake! I realized that t'was my field trip day! I moved ala-Road Runner - I zoomed in and out of my room (still undecided of whether to push through with the trip or not). I checked the web and ugh! I was late for the Island Trip. Fail, fail, fail!

Oh but whew! I still have some time for the other stops. I bathed. I ate. I checked my bacpack. I left. The journey began.

Classica Pasig

First Stop: the SALON

As if one really needs to be fully-groomed when going on a trip. Nah. This one was for relaxation. A good start. I had my hair and head treated (not the usual treatment again - I am not for skin deep beauty and wellness). My hair and head were warmed up, massaged, left to relax and cooled and warm dried. End.

TMC Ortigas

Second Stop: the DOCTOR'S CLINIC

Just for a bit of physical examination before I venture on a long-day trip. I had to make sure that my organs and senses were in very good working condition - i was traveling alone and so heart attacks, nausea, hyperacidity attacks should be on the last of the list, if not included at all. Do not get me wrong. I went to set an appointment. No serious poking and examining happened.

Paintings on Exhibit at the Crucible SM Megamall
Photos from Google Images

Third Stop: the CRUCIBLE

I am not an artist. I do not create art. I appreciate it. I marvel at paintings, sculptures and artsy crafts. They amaze and entertain me at the same time. The unique artworks inspire me. Ah, how beautiful the world is! Each craft carries with it a mystery - it plays with the mind. Painter, sculptor or mere observer, the sight of these precious creations never fail to make the mind wander and wonder.

LRT Anonas Station

Fourth Stop: the WORM
You may be wondering what or where the Worm is. I simply mean the Train. I love riding in trains (especially the LRT2). I have explained well why I have this liking for the long, winding, slithering thing. I consider it the most favorable mode for mass transportation. Good thing railways in the metro are elevated. This way, I can just sit back, relax and enjoy the view from the wide-glass-paned windows. Such a comforting feeling!

PNU Taft Avenue Manila

Fifth Stop: the OLD SCHOOL
Feeling nostalgic, I dropped by my old school (literally and figuratively old - it is over a hundred years old and is my former school). I may not have such strong an affection or bond with the institution (I only spent two years of college here before I graduated). Coming from provincial schools, PNU "shocked" me with the rallies inside school. Quite liberal as it may seem, my classmates and I were still able to share memorable activities according to tradition - parties, gift-giving, group outing, and most importantly, graduation. ;-)

The National Museum and the Museo Pambata at the Rizal Park Grounds

Sixth Stop: the MUSEUM

I was finally able to enter the home of national artists. I was thrilled. Since it was a weekday, the museum was not filled aka no students going on a field trip. To add to the fun, I was asked to join a group of foreigners for the guided tour. It seemed a short time of stay for the entrance fee but I enjoyed nontheless. I lingered on the pre-Spanish area, with the interactive musical instruments. Memory flashed back to those days when learning about history was a requirement. I wished we had access to the museum during that time. Learning would have been a lot more fun. Interestingly, I was given a free pass to check out the Museo Pambata. I had fun with the kids, and of course with the educational exhibits, too! I love the mazes.

Kilometer Zero, Luneta, Manila

Seventh Stop: the PARK

I was feeling tourist-er. I roamed around the park, pausing before every statue and snapping shots at them. It was a hot mid-afternoon. I was good as burnt. Though I have seen them quite often before, I still marvel at the sight of those having picnic at the park - blanket, umbrella, basket of food, kite, kids, balloons, bicycles, cameras - they bring such a peaceful, relaxing feeling. I was being toasted black without the benefit of a sunscreen...but I lingered. That was one enjoyable afternoon. I will surely be back.

Sunset by the Bay | Roxas Boulevard

Eighth Stop: the BOULEVARD

Sunset! I love sunsets! I am a walker. I may not win in marathons or walk-a-thons for that matter, but I can endure really long walks. Today, I walked from PNU all the way to MOA. Imagine that? But I rested for a while at the boulevard to capture the lovely sunset. What a reward for the almost-over field trip! I have been here many times, at various times of the day. I have been here before dawn to jog, midnight to enjoy the bar and the bands, at dusk to pause from binge eating (usually from Max's across the street, adjacent to Rajah Soliman Park), early morning for a run-for-a-cause. The most memorable part of the boulevard walk today was the American Embassy attack. I got hooked by the light decors hung on the trees surrounding the embassy and decided to take pictures of them. Suddenly, a guard was  running towards me, shouting at me and about to confiscate my camera. Oh my! I did not know that such act was, is, prohibited. Haayaa!

SM Mall of Asia

Ninth Stop: the MALL

I do not have much to say. Just a note maybe, that this mall has been considered as one of the metro's tourist destinations. A must-visit location especially for those coming from other (especially far-away) places. Shop. Dine. Stroll. Watch a movie. Watch the fireworks display. Enjoy quality time with friends or family.

The Science Discovery Center at Mall of Asia

Tenth Stop: the LABORATORY

I played goalie for a soccer game. I sent a message from the past to the future. I flew a plane. I experienced a magnitude 7 earthquake. I heard and smelled flatulence. I learned about solar cars. I was brought to the wonderful world of planets and galaxies. I rode on a modern unicycle. I was under the sea for a longer-than-humanly-possible time and was interviewed by a talking fish. For a short stay, i experienced ultimate edu-tainment. In a nutshell, this awesome venue piques and feeds your curiosity, nourishes your scientific inclination and develops in you a sense of awareness of the world and the future to come. Just keep in mind, a buddy would double the fun. ;-)

The Robotics Section of the Science Discovery Center

Eleventh Stop: the ROBOTICS CENTER

I have always loved robots. When I was a kid, I would always choose a robot over a doll. The very first robot that I got was for free (from Colgate). It was a blue and pink mini-transformer robot - it changes from a letter M to a robot-looking figure. It made me happy until it got lost. I am hoping to be part of a robotics class or seminar in the near future. Oh, how I love them! 

Manila Bay by the Boulevard

Last Stop: the BAY

Dinner at Dencio's capped the day. It was a sumptuous meal coupled with an de-LIGHT-ful view of the bay. What a day this was! I am definitely going for another trip in the near future.