Alternate Reality

I haven’t blogged in a while for a couple of reasons.  One is because between work and travel, I’ve been busy..  The other reason is because I sometimes feel I’m in an alternate reality.  
 Thailand was wonderful!  I enjoyed being away from the din of Christmas, red and green and holiday songs.  There were some signs of Christmas in Thailand but minimally, not the amount in the states and Cebu.  Thailand is colorful, clean and welcoming.  It was easy to get around and there is a lot to see.  I had a wonderful trip (by subway) to the “weekend Market”.  Picture the biggest flea market you’ve ever seen, with a variety greater than you can imagine.  I bought a silk bed set, bathrobe, blouse, three bracelets, earrings, cool shoes and elephant pictures.  I don’t think the total was $100.  Then I went sight seeing, mostly to the famous Wats (temples). 

 I saw the huge reclining Buddha, large Buddhas and small, beautiful carved doors and murals.  I went to the Royal Barge museum too.  Of course, we ate well, Indian and Thai food. 

 Then we flew to the town of Chang Mai.  I loved this small town, easy to walk around the walled city.  We had a one day package that included an elephant ride, a bamboo raft ride on the river and a walk to the waterfall.  Visited many more Wats and shopped some more, pant, scarves, souvenirs.  We also visited the Art in Paradise, Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum, perfect for selfies, and amazing. 

 Read “Bamboo Tattoo”, loved it . We took a bus farther north to Chang Rai, not as quaint but still lovely.  The highlights were a visit to the Asean Flower Festival, with music, dancing and flower displays and a visit to the WhiteTemple, another Wat done almost entirely in white with a great art collection.  Tucky, my traveling companion had to return to Cebu and I choose the “Slow Boat to Laos".  It consisted of a two day trip down the Mekong River.  One night stay(in a funky hotel) in Pakbeng and arrival the second day in Luang Prabeng.  The boat was pleasant, with people from all over and good conversations.  We arrived the second day in Luang Prabang, Laos.   My hotel in Luang Prabang was about a mile from town with a free shuttle and free bicycle,  I used both.  It is a beautiful riverside town that caters to tourists, many French, Russian and Thai.  It was great to stroll town, visit the museums and take a trip to the nearby waterfall.  More good shopping too.  The last day, I took the bus to the capital of Laos, Vientiane.  Bummer! my luggage was stolen at the bus station but I did have my shopping bag with most of my newly acquired goodies and of course my purse and passport.  The next day, January 4^th,  flew back to Cebu.

So that brings us to the new year.  Right after we got back, a local festival, Sinulog, was approaching.  The school hosts a family day with games, dancing and music and lots of food.  The following weekend, the festival takes place in downtown Cebu.  I got out of town, went to stay in Bogo, in the north.  
 The next week was called “Week without walls” at Cebu International School.  Classes reach out to the community.  I visited the local elementary school with the fifth graders.  We also went to the Mandaue dump site, which houses hundreds of families.  With the fourth graders, we made “liters of light” for those nearby without electricity.  We visited the historic sites in Cebu and the Jesuit museum, rich with Cebu history.

These experiences were eye opening.  The local fifth grade had 52 students in a small room with no air conditioning.  The library was a textbook storage area with six ancient computers.  The students were smiling and friendly, as are most people in the Philippines. 
  The alternate reality or universe is a feeling composed of the different ways people relate here and the different experiences.  People here talk with their eyebrows, it means hello, excuse me, etc.  It is actually charming.  The part that is not charming, rather frustrating, is when people act like they understand you but they don’t.  Or they just  ignore what you’ve said, like it never happened.   An example is when I was in the store the other day and asked where to find something, they just smiled and said thank you. This happens often.  Like, did I really talk? 
 Alternate reality is the traffic.  I live 6 km (about 3 miles) from school.  It takes about 30 minutes each morning.  I call it my morning obstacle course.  Motorcycles come toward you, on your side of the road, I dodge bikes, people and carts, the good part is you are never going fast.  The pot holes are numerous and challenging.  Jeepneys are always allowed the right of way and of course, they rarely signal their intentions.  One of the common expressions is “wait awhile”.  What is a while?  It depends.  Very little is easy here, from banking to eating out, to getting around.  So my days are spent with strange experiences, getting less strange with time.  All of this happens with a happiness and intentions of helpfulness.  Am I in the twilight zone?