This is a Long One
Cousin and I on yet another adventure last night. Well, mini-adventure really. Drove about 15 kilometers the other way for some birthday cake. It was good cake though. Was actually my godson's 2nd b-day. Little angel with big brown eyes and puffy cheeks named Mika-el. We haven't had the chance to bond yet. But we will. In, like, 20 years, when he needs to bum some crack money. Can't wait.
Got lost: Once (and only a little bit)
Asked directions: 9 times
Grabbed mobile phone in panic: Once (and she didn't even pick up!)
Generally, t'was good fun. Was oh-so-deliriously happy though when we finally caught sight of the bright lights of the big city.
O o O
Top 15 unforgettable combination road/plane/boat trips:
15. 10-minute errand to a nearby city (and I really do mean "near" - as in a kilometer away) turned into an hour-long trip to hell. Got majorly lost. Made every possible wrong turn. Vowed never to return to that cursed city ever again. (Still get the shivers!)
14. Half-day drive to Myrtle Beach for Senior Week. Had no cash, but had friends who loved me. Was plied with free beers by some handsome stranger. (Well, he looked pretty good after, like, the third bottle.)
13. Island-hopped with Lily and Princess U. Rode the plane out of and into Manila, but spent the rest of the time riding liners, catamarans and ferries. Three major islands in four days. Didn't spend a penny. Benefactor Princess U was having a good year and decided to foot the bill. (Side bar: A psychic actually foretold this beach trip. By, like, five months in advance. He said, "I see you on an island with friends... You're all laughing... And now the good part... You don't have to pay for this trip..." Is that cool or what?)
12. Senior Skip Day. Drove to South Carolina and straddled the border. Only had a gas card and great company.
11. 12 hours on a bus for the chance to unearth a 2-dollar designer bargain! Accomplice? Cousin, of course.
10. 4-hour trip to LA. Ran to terminal for connecting flight only to realize that my itinerary was all f*cked up and that my plane actually left two hours ago. Latinos tried to pick me up as I patiently waited for the bus that would, hopefully, take me to the nearest, cheapest hotel. "Ola chica! Wanna partee?"
9. Heading home from a weekend stay up at the mountains. Realized too late that we (Princess U and I) had no money for the toll. (Notice a cash-strapped pattern here?!?) Pulled over to dig around for loose change. Still came up short.
Following conversation ensued:
Princess U: Just tell the toll guy, Exit 35.
Me: But we don't have enough cash to get off that exit.
PU: They won't count all those pennies. They'll just let us pass.
Me: I can't lie! Let's just get off Exit 32. Then we can go to Rio's place. Am sure she'll loan us the cash.
PU: Just tell 'em Exit 35! They won't know! Trust me, 'kay?
Me: I can't! I can't lie!
Next Shot:
Toll Guy: What exit?
Me to PU: Sorry. Can't lie.
Me to TG: Exit 35 please.
Toll ticket and coins changed hands. Tires screeched. Left marks on pavement.
8. Driving to Santa Rosa on a cold, wet October Night. All that fog and rain for a glimpse of him. I called it "stalking". Partner-in-crime and best bud called it "visiting".
7. A sultry summer night. Driving to the lake, 80 kilometers away from civilization. Once on a long stretch of deserted highway, we turned off the headlights and relied on the crescent moon to take us to the water's edge.
6. 18 hours on a boat, 3 hours on a jeep and 25 minutes on a bangca. Then paradise. Would've enjoyed it more if I wasn't down with a stupid flu.
5. A spur-of-the-moment trip to the mountains, a two-hour drive at the very least. It was a rainy night and Princess U and I must've turned back, like, five times before buckling down and hitting the road for real. When we finally got there, the fog was so thick we couldn't even see the gas station just ten meters away. Scared each other silly with scenarios involving zombies.
4. Drove up to the mountains again. This time, for the casino. Pooled our cash and hit the slots. Managed to win enough to pay for dinner and the toll. (Imagine 5 girls screaming over, like, a 10-dollar haul. One male friend stands at the "Big and Small" table, acting like he doesn't know us.)
3. An hour on a plane, four hours on a bus, and an hour on a ferry. But when I finally see the shore, I knew it was worth the trouble.
2. 21-year-old me, Princess U and Angie on a badly planned road trip. Had 300 pesos between us. Good judgment bound and gagged in the trunk. Drove up, had ramen and iced teas (plus complimentary sashimi from kind German GM who took pity on us cash-less souls), played poker, people-watched, told jokes, and laughed till our sides hurt.
1. Boracay the first time around. Three wide-eyed gals who borrowed money to get there. By Day 5, Angie and I were halfing burgers and stealing fries from Princess U's plate when she wasn't looking.
Eight August days and nights filled with lovely German boys, forward Frenchmen, some gracious Spaniards, a nice bartender, and Madame Bovary (don't ask).
O o O
Next roadtrip? Hopefully, a drive up north, tracing the coastline, the wind in my hair, EBTG's "Worldwide" album on the CD changer. Hopefully.
Got lost: Once (and only a little bit)
Asked directions: 9 times
Grabbed mobile phone in panic: Once (and she didn't even pick up!)
Generally, t'was good fun. Was oh-so-deliriously happy though when we finally caught sight of the bright lights of the big city.
O o O
Top 15 unforgettable combination road/plane/boat trips:
15. 10-minute errand to a nearby city (and I really do mean "near" - as in a kilometer away) turned into an hour-long trip to hell. Got majorly lost. Made every possible wrong turn. Vowed never to return to that cursed city ever again. (Still get the shivers!)
14. Half-day drive to Myrtle Beach for Senior Week. Had no cash, but had friends who loved me. Was plied with free beers by some handsome stranger. (Well, he looked pretty good after, like, the third bottle.)
13. Island-hopped with Lily and Princess U. Rode the plane out of and into Manila, but spent the rest of the time riding liners, catamarans and ferries. Three major islands in four days. Didn't spend a penny. Benefactor Princess U was having a good year and decided to foot the bill. (Side bar: A psychic actually foretold this beach trip. By, like, five months in advance. He said, "I see you on an island with friends... You're all laughing... And now the good part... You don't have to pay for this trip..." Is that cool or what?)
12. Senior Skip Day. Drove to South Carolina and straddled the border. Only had a gas card and great company.
11. 12 hours on a bus for the chance to unearth a 2-dollar designer bargain! Accomplice? Cousin, of course.
10. 4-hour trip to LA. Ran to terminal for connecting flight only to realize that my itinerary was all f*cked up and that my plane actually left two hours ago. Latinos tried to pick me up as I patiently waited for the bus that would, hopefully, take me to the nearest, cheapest hotel. "Ola chica! Wanna partee?"
9. Heading home from a weekend stay up at the mountains. Realized too late that we (Princess U and I) had no money for the toll. (Notice a cash-strapped pattern here?!?) Pulled over to dig around for loose change. Still came up short.
Following conversation ensued:
Princess U: Just tell the toll guy, Exit 35.
Me: But we don't have enough cash to get off that exit.
PU: They won't count all those pennies. They'll just let us pass.
Me: I can't lie! Let's just get off Exit 32. Then we can go to Rio's place. Am sure she'll loan us the cash.
PU: Just tell 'em Exit 35! They won't know! Trust me, 'kay?
Me: I can't! I can't lie!
Next Shot:
Toll Guy: What exit?
Me to PU: Sorry. Can't lie.
Me to TG: Exit 35 please.
Toll ticket and coins changed hands. Tires screeched. Left marks on pavement.
8. Driving to Santa Rosa on a cold, wet October Night. All that fog and rain for a glimpse of him. I called it "stalking". Partner-in-crime and best bud called it "visiting".
7. A sultry summer night. Driving to the lake, 80 kilometers away from civilization. Once on a long stretch of deserted highway, we turned off the headlights and relied on the crescent moon to take us to the water's edge.
6. 18 hours on a boat, 3 hours on a jeep and 25 minutes on a bangca. Then paradise. Would've enjoyed it more if I wasn't down with a stupid flu.
5. A spur-of-the-moment trip to the mountains, a two-hour drive at the very least. It was a rainy night and Princess U and I must've turned back, like, five times before buckling down and hitting the road for real. When we finally got there, the fog was so thick we couldn't even see the gas station just ten meters away. Scared each other silly with scenarios involving zombies.
4. Drove up to the mountains again. This time, for the casino. Pooled our cash and hit the slots. Managed to win enough to pay for dinner and the toll. (Imagine 5 girls screaming over, like, a 10-dollar haul. One male friend stands at the "Big and Small" table, acting like he doesn't know us.)
3. An hour on a plane, four hours on a bus, and an hour on a ferry. But when I finally see the shore, I knew it was worth the trouble.
2. 21-year-old me, Princess U and Angie on a badly planned road trip. Had 300 pesos between us. Good judgment bound and gagged in the trunk. Drove up, had ramen and iced teas (plus complimentary sashimi from kind German GM who took pity on us cash-less souls), played poker, people-watched, told jokes, and laughed till our sides hurt.
1. Boracay the first time around. Three wide-eyed gals who borrowed money to get there. By Day 5, Angie and I were halfing burgers and stealing fries from Princess U's plate when she wasn't looking.
Eight August days and nights filled with lovely German boys, forward Frenchmen, some gracious Spaniards, a nice bartender, and Madame Bovary (don't ask).
O o O
Next roadtrip? Hopefully, a drive up north, tracing the coastline, the wind in my hair, EBTG's "Worldwide" album on the CD changer. Hopefully.
Ophelia came up for air at 8:11 PM
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