Christmas Wishlist 2014

The second BER month is about to end so I might as well list down what I want for Christmas. Not that I am expecting anyone to give me anything on my list but let's see if the universe will conspire to grant some on it.

Christmas is never for me. I get depressed during the holidays. Must be SAD (seasonal affective disorder). The festive atmosphere is supposed to cheer one up, right? But no, the warm lights on the Christmas tree, the Christmas songs one hears almost everywhere at this time of the year, the sights of mall sale, the sudden increase of people in Metro Manila, the advertisements, they all make me pensive.

And I would always wish I were somewhere quiet, where I can bask in blissful solitude. The mountains would be a most welcome retreat, but who would join me when families are supposed to be together for Christmas?

Also, I dread getting useless stuffs, mostly recycled gifts. I dread the organized exchange gifts in the workplace, though I participate for the sake of pakikisama. And who knows maybe somewhere out there somebody might just pack one awesomely unique gift for me, or something I can use, not something I'll just dump somewhere in our already messy room (thanks to me).

Contrary to what many think, I am actually quite easy to please. I don't want cheap things which you can buy anywhere. I have no need for cute things which I can't even use. I dislike things people give just so they can say they have given gifts. Just imagine how many tons of useless stuff factories produce everyday worldwide and just imagine the the amount of resources used to produce these useless things which usually just end up in the dumpsite. No wonder this world is so sick, it is so drowned in consumerism it forgets life's simple pleasures.

What I want is something more personal, something that truly comes from the heart, something that is exclusively meant for me. And the best part is that you don't have to spend that much when considering a gift for me. Life is simple and simplicity has always been associated with me for as long as I can remember.

Write me a poem and I'd keep it and treasure it as if it were some piece of jewelry. Create a card for me showing your artsy side and it will easily be one of my prized possessions. Write me a long letter, and I'd keep it somewhere safe but easily accessible for when I would miss you, I would just take it out and read it and then my heart shall smile at the sweet memory of you.

The best gifts I have received are not the most expensive nor the most beautiful. But they are the best gifts because the givers really considered what I like and they made sure these gifts are things that I will simply put on the shelves to gather dust. Friends who have given me books know my thirst for literature. Friends who wrote me letters are the best; I think they know me as a sentimental person who takes pleasure in walking down memory lane. Friends who invite me to go someplace new know my love for adventure, the same for those who bring me to restos be they expensive or dirt cheap. In the end, it's always the thought that counts.

I guess that must be one reason why I find it hard to give gifts. I tend to project my tastes unto the recipients and they must be disappointed whenever I end up giving them small cards or colorful letters or whatnot. Still I am happy to have found friends who truly appreciated the small things I give. I was even surprised when two of my male friends told me they keep all the letters I have given them in their wallets. I guess that's what you call friendship.

Anyway, the material things I want for this year:

1. Boxes of dark chocolates (preferably with mint or orange)

2. Old and rare books

3. Yacht cruise (Mediterranean or Caribbean.... Or both)

4. Free movie passes or tickets to concerts and theatrical performances

5. Ride in a helicopter

6. International and domestic trips

7. Europe trip! (perhaps two months will do but I wonder if I could have such long leave)

8. Notebooks and pens

9. Dinner in unusual restaurants

Last and the most important are two things which always go hand in hand. I always wish to have courage to do the things I have to do and to have strength to continue doing what I have to do.

Love Museum, Jeju Island

One of the places we visited in Jeju Island on our first day there was the Love Museum. The name of course is misleading because it's all about sex and erotica, and not necessarily love. For this reason, only those 18 years old and above are allowed to enter.  For this same reason, I am only posting some of the wholesome pictures I took.

The moment you get inside the park, you will see a lot of cement sculptures of phalli. There is also a fountain, the water of which is sprayed from a gigantic male organ. Two mounds are also visible and if you pay close attention, you will see that pink nipples are present on top of the mounds!

Inside the museum are more art revolving on the erotica and on sex organs. The ground floor also serves as souvenir shop for those who wants to buy kinky stuff. The second floor houses dioramas portraying sex in many situations.

Adults are sure to be amused at what the Love Museum has to offer. It reminds me of the Shunga, most especially the ukiyo-e of Japan. The Koreans also had something similar which dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. 

____________________________________________________________________

I'm just starting to read up on Korean history to somehow make sense of my trip.

Buntot Palos Falls, Laguna

Last July, I joined a group of strangers for a waterfalls trek. The night before, I couldn't sleep because thoughts of backing out was on my mind. I suddenly thought, what if the group are smokers? What if no female shows up?

But it was one heck of an experience!

I showed up at 4:30 am which was a bad move. I could have slept a little bit more. Then the organizer showed up and I was introduced to the other members. They were all younger than me! And most belong to JVP, the Jesuit Volunteer of the Philippines which is under ADMU. So that made me relax a little.

I slept in the van on the way to the falls. When we got there, we did a bit of stretching, which is something most groups I joined in the past forget to do. Then we started.

The climb up was not that tiring. In fact, the whole time, I was chatting with the organizer who was two years younger than me. He seemed really friendly. In fact, I was at ease with him. We got to talk a lot because we were leading the group. And also while waiting for the others to catch up, I was able to take lots of photos.

Like the mountains in Batangas, this one doesn't really have anything special. There's the usual mud, the usual rocky features, the big mosquitoes, big ants, and really nothing special. But it's a different story when you get to the falls. Okay, it's not as beautiful as the others I've seen but I love its very fresh waters! Refreshingly cool!

the mud (sometimes mixed with horse dung)

bark mushrooms turning golden under the sun

The challenge was the descent. Because I wore my rubber sandals, I was vulnerable to the invading mud in my footwear. It was such a bad idea. I was only thinking that since were going to a waterfalls, I wouldn't need socks and rubber shoes. While going down, I saw some people from other groups wearing water shoes and they said it's better than rubber shoes. Okay, noted on that. I should have brought those instead so the mud wouldn't make the surface of my sandals slippery. My toes were terribly hurt by the straps soon afterwards that I decided to go barefoot. Never mind the horse dung. It's better than slipping on the rocks and ending up with scrapes and bruises.

The organizer lent me his large slippers which was a great help and relief. When we got to the water source in the middle of the trail, I was able to wash off most of the mud and heading down didn't hurt my toes as much.

We had lunch at Manang's which is pretty much like Bulacan's Namwah. We ordered a lot of food but ended up shelling less than P200 each. I love the fried chicken!!!

Anyway, after that, we headed to Panguil Ecopark but only hang out there until late afternoon before washing up and heading back to Manila. We got there too late and the management was strict in following the time they accept visitors. Still it was a great experience!

I look forward to joining more open trips and gaining new friends in the process. :)

Hong Kong University Museum and Art Gallery

After taking a look around the Hong Kong Museum of Medicinal Sciences, I went on to HKU. Back in college, I was often persuaded by my aunts to go to HKU but my parents cannot send me there due to our financial conditions. Besides, it would mean being away from my family. My parents, being conservatively strict and overprotective, wouldn't want that.

So anyway, stepping inside the campus felt surreal. I had fun going inside the buildings. Good thing classes had not yet started at the time of my visit so I was able to sneak in a ease without worrying if I were caught.

I got in the art gallery and museum but taking pictures is not allowed. The museum has ancient furniture and ceramic wares, not unlike the other museums. And they also exhibit contemporary art.

There is however, one disturbing sight: that of golden lucky cats which mechanically raise their paws while their eyes are fixed on a screen flashing alternately "I LOVE CHINA" and "CHINA LOVES ME" on red background, reminiscent of Communist China. I was disgusted at the sight. Shortly I came home, news of HK protests for democracy were all over. It seems that the exhibit was actually satirical.

view near the library: the main building which I mistook for a church

inside the Main Building

post renaissance style facade

The Last Emperor (1987)

Boarding Korean Airlines has been fun for me. They have a nice albeit few selection of movies both new and classic ones. One of these is the 1987 film The Last Emperor by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. The movie poster was familiar though I cannot recall where I saw it. I did remember visiting a museum in Xiamen back in 2008 where I first took an interest in Pu Yi. Last night, on our flight back to Manila, I chose that almost three-hour film and it doesn't disappoint.

The Last Emperor is a biographic film on the tragic life of Pu Yi who mostly lived his life in prison. The film opens with a grown Pu Yi being detained by the Russians. He tried to kill himself but was not not successful. Then came flashbacks of his life.

As an infant he was called to the Forbidden Palace after the death of the emperor. Empress Dowager Cixi proclaimed him as new emperor right then and there just before her own death. He was very pampered, with attendants around him ready to do his bidding. The people around him all assured him that he will be emperor forever. He was allowed to do everything he wished except to step outside the palace. The first time he questioned his power was when his brother visited him in the palace and told him that he is not the emperor, that the one who truly rules is the president who rides in a car. From then on, the young Pu Yi has a strong admiration for anything western, more so under the tutelage of a Scotsman named Reginald Johnston who later authored Twilight in the Forbidden City.

His first sorrow is perhaps having lost his wet nurse, his only friend inside a cold huge palace filled with rules. He chased after the carriage where his wet nurse was. When told he was already at an age where he no longer needs a wet nurse, he replied, "She's not a wet nurse. She's my butterfly." This scene is replicated later on in the film when his wife the Empress Wanrong leaves him in a car and he runs after the car but is unsuccessful.

Seemingly obsessed with being an emperor and unable to accept that he is merely a puppet, he agreed to collaborate with the Japanese and for a short period of time, ruled as puppet emperor of Manchuria which was in reality under Japanese control. It was there where his life crumbles away when he ignores his wife Wanrong who then gave birth to an illegitimate child. Her lover was the chauffeur. Her child was killed after birth by the Japanese.

When Japan announced surrender, Wanrong eventually returns a very changed person due to her addiction to opium. She spits at the Japanese, for whom she showed only contempt even before Pu Yi accepted their offer to rule over Manchuria.

Later on, Pu Yi undergoes the reeducation program under Communist rule where he begins to fend for his own. He later learns of the damage wrought by the Japanese especially in Nanking. Driven by guilt and feeling responsible for the sufferings of his country, he desires to just live in peace. He is eventually granted pardon and lives now as a gardener.

One day while in the streets, he witnesses a parade of "traitors" to the Communist cause. He sees the prison commander, his only friend in the reeducation program, and tries to persuade the soldiers that the man is good and does not deserve punishment, but in vain. Years later, he visits the Forbidden Palace as a tourist and climbs up the throne. A boy stops him and he says he used to be the emperor. Unbelieving, the boy asks him to produce an evidence and Pu Yi gets the wooden cricket house from under the throne. He received this as a gift on his coronation day.

The film ends showing tourists flocking to the Forbidden Palace, now no longer the home of the monarchs but an artifact of dynastic Imperial China.

__________________________________________________________

Watching this movie and seeing Pu Yi's struggles due to his status change from emperor to a commoner, I cannot help but think of the many little emperors in China today what with the sudden increase in number of the nouveau riche. Ill-mannered and self-centered, they will one day be at the helms of Chinese companies. It cannot be denied that China is a global power and its role in global affairs will be of importance. It is however very scary to see that the future leaders are those used to being spoiled and pampered. I wonder where the world is headed to?

九龍城寨 (Kowloon Walled City Park)

While doing a last minute research the night before I left for HK, the Kowloon Walled City Park was put in my priority list. I love parks, more so parks with ruins.

the preserved ruins inside the Walled City

The park is located in New Territories and it used to be a military fort. First constructed in 1847, the place was meant as a defense fortress cum accommodation for civil and military personnel. During the Tai Ping Rebellion in mid 19th century, the walled city was invaded by the rebels. The military officials were forced to evacuate the area. After World War 2, the walled city started to gain its notorious reputation as a dark sin city, becoming a big drug den where illegal activities abound from prostitution to unlicensed medical practitioners. As such, crimes were more than frequent.

Interestingly many people lived normal lives in that enclave with no sewage system and water supply was scarce. Eventually the Chinese and British government decided to demolish the tall buildings that mushroomed there and to relocate the people in order to transform the whole area into a public park.

broken stone tablet with the words 九龍城寨 (Kowloon Walled City)

small falls inside

fragrant juniper trees lining the paved path

restored structure

pagoda where people nowadays practice tai chi and do exercises

____________________________________________________________

I wish the Manila government would also do something for Tondo, Manila. While the area is not enclosed like the early Kowloon Walled City, the parallelisms lie in that both are infamous for illegal things and for the anarchic (in the widely popular sense of the term, and definitely not the original noble definition it has). We can learn a lot from how the Chinese and British managed the evacuation and relocation of the original residents. It will take greater political will to do so and only a true government, something that really cares for its people, can do this. Unfortunately we all know that government officials are nothing but greedy pigs who seek office to pocket the people's money. Sigh.

Korean Airlines

For someone who's used to travelling on a budget, I cringe whenever I hear about expensive plane tickets when budget carriers are already in existence which allow even ordinary (and poor, like me) people to realize their dreams of travelling to different parts of the world. That has been one big on-going project of mine and I'm taking baby steps towards realizing it. Hopefully I get to travel to at least one new country each year. For the love of travel and of knowing new things, God knows how hard I work! But it would be even greater if I could have someone to sponsor my trips. LOL

Who would have thought that this year I would have the chance to get inside a more posh aircraft aside from that of Cebu Pacific. This year I had second thoughts about joining a tour in Korea because for one, tours do not allow one to really engage in a place in a meaningful way. All one does is hop inside the tour bus, go down, have your pics taken, go home and post pics on FB but there is no real depth to that experience. It is shallow, uninteresting, and definitely not for me who am fond of walking long distances.

Despite that, I said yes. Not out of love for my father whom I think would need my assistance since the last time he went on a trip with his friends he was sent to the hospital. I'm not the world's most dutiful daughter. My reason is more on the selfish side, this is an opportunity to go to Korea. If I were to wait for my friends to I wonder at what age I will be able to go there. At least the tour would be like a survey for me, if I liked the place, if there are places worthy of visit (i.e. Museums, historical places, big temples), then I'd definitely go back. I'm pretty sure there are many historical places like palaces and these are quite popular in their historical dramas.

Very roomy interiors with 9 seats per row instead of the usual 6

Entertainment consisting of music, movies, books, and even games

I had chicken instead of beef bibimbap but used my dad's leftover chili paste

Anyway, the plane craft was really nice. It was the first time I got inside a big one so pardon my post about it. I was awed at how they took into consideration a passenger's need to kill time with their all in one console. They even had classical music!

Excited, I opted to watch a Spanish comedy film entitled Ochos apellidos. It is about a man from Seville who fell in love with a girl from the Basque region. They met in Seville and after a one night stand, the man pursued the girl all the way to the Basque and pretended to be of that region. He had to to get the girl since the Basque is a fiercely separatist region. It's witty and funny and I honestly enjoyed it because of many comedic elements although I'm not really into romcoms. I guess I'm more interested in knowing more about the culture of the Basque region more than anything else. 

______________________________________________________

This is the first time I blogged while away on a trip. Will have to do this more often to prevent backlogs.