The Adventures of Tarabusaw

Wrote this yesterday…

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Never in my life have I imagined that I can go to the United States.  But my assignment here in Canada has given me the opportunity to go there – either for work or just for play.  The proximity of the two countries – with only rivers and lakes dividing them – has even given me the chance to just drive by.  And as one of my colleagues here mentioned, New York is just like going to Quaipo.

I remember the first time I went to the US.  I was so worried that the immigration officers might ask me a lot of questions.  But nada, they just asked me when I’ll be coming back to Canada.  After that, every entry in the US seemed to be a breeze.  Well, there were occasional times of minute interrogations, but still not comparable to what Arab-looking people experience. 

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Two years ago, the “scene of the crime” was in Portofino.  Last year trails were seen in Jollibee Park Square and in Mabini Street in San Pedro.  This year, it went mobile.  Hahaha… I am talking of my birthday celebs. 

Though my birthday this year seemed to be the longest, with greetings already coming in at 12 noon of September 23 (as it is already the 24th in the Philippines), I can say that I had the oddest but most relaxed celebration.  Odd, because I celebrated it inside a bus; relaxing because my birthday just passed by. 

My friends and family back home asked me how I celebrated my birthday here.  I just told them that I stayed home.  Besides, I was already tired as I was from a trip from Pittsburgh and New York.  It sounded boring to them, but it was great for me.  In my mind, I know it was my birthday.  Sans the parties and hullabaloos, it was a time to recollect everything that has transpired from the past 24 years of my life and look forward to my 25th one.  I have crossed another border, a border to my quarter life (well, that is if I am bound to live up to my hundreds… hahaha).

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Speaking of borders, I will be crossing another one.  But this time it is a literal border and not the figurative one I was referring in the snippet above.  Hmmmm… but looking at the world map, it seems that I cannot “cross the border”… I have to “swim the border” as a big big mass of water is bordering it from the rest of the world.  See you all there!

I’m currently here in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.  I’m visiting my friend and his wife who moved south of the border last month.  Actually, napaaga ang punta ko dito eh.  My original itinerary was to take the bus tour to Kingston-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec then head to Niagara Falls in New York so they can pick me up there.  From Niagara Falls, we will be driving to their house in Pittsburgh.

Unfortunately, the bus tour is already full and the next available one will either be on Saturday or next Wednesday.  But since, I’m travelling with my housemate who will be flying out of Toronto on Thursday, we just decided to forego our would-be French Canadian adventure. 

Getting here in PIttsburgh is no easy feat.  We just took the bus which — take a hold of your seats — delivers us here for almost 12 hours!!!  Kainis di ba?  But knowing me, I can sleep in any place at any time basta makasandal lang ako.  But if you will ask me, I will not recommend travelling by bus if you have the moolah to fly.  Grabe pa sa jetlag ang feeling ko pagbaba!  But of course, seeing friends washes away any stress and lifts up dampened spirits. 

Downtown Pittsburgh is like downtown Cleveland.  Maybe because they belong to the same region — North Central America that is.  But after a while, I realized that I liked Pittsburgh better than Cleveland.  The city is set in an island within the river, which I think puts more character and ambience.  It felt like a bigger Baguio City with little touches of Antipolo and Cagayan de Oro.  And I can say that Pittsburgh is lively, but still not comparable to New York or even to Toronto.  But my oh my, the architecture of buildings here are superb!  They have preserved the skyscrapers of 1930’s — the same era as other buildings in Manhattan.  Unfortunately, I cannot post any pictures here as my camera ate all my pics!  Leche yan!  Nabura lahat ng pictures ko!  Even some of my most treasured Toronto pictures were gone!  Huhuhu!!!  Now everything in Pittsburgh is just in my memory.  Haay…  But I will try my best to take some before I leave.  But oh, I salvaged some of them.  It’s not of very good quality… pagtiyagaan niyo na lang muna ha.

Speaking of leaving, I am leaving tonight — actually, WE are leaving tonight — for a long drive to New York.  And since I’ve been there already, I am tasked to be the tour guide.  Shucks, di ko na yata naaalala yung ibang pinuntahan namin eh.  Pero siyempre dadalhin ko sila kay Liberty.  Honestly, di na ako excited pumunta dun… pero okay na rin kasi kasama ko sila and nabitin din naman ako nung una kong punta dun.

Earlier, we went to Prime Grove City Outlet Store.  Grabe!  Ang saya saya!  I felt like I was in Shopping Heaven.  Cresta… you will love it there.  Where can you find factory outlet prices with additional 20 - 70% discount?!?  Hindi ako mahilig (masyado) magshopping pero my total damages were a little over 200 grand!  Pero okay na rin kasi kalimitan naman ng nabili ko eh pwede kong gamitin sa office.

Hay naku, I just realized earlier while fitting some of the clothes that I have really grown too big… literally!  Sometimes, I like some clothes, but when I try them out, they fit not too comfortably.  Kainis talaga!  Kailangan ko na talagang magpapayat.  Pramis ko yan sa inyo… magpapapayat na ako.  Babalitaan ko kayo ng progress ko.

Okay, medyo mahaba na’to.  Sige, mag-aayos pa ako ng mga gamit ko bago kami pumunta ng New York.  Will update you soon as I get home (or whenever I can get online).

Nandito ako ngayon sa Toronto Public Library sa may Yonge-Bloor branch. Wala na kasi kaming internet sa bahay at ito lang ang naisipan namin na free internet access.  Ang galeng!!!  Free talaga siya… pero for 30 minutes lang.  Pero okay na rin.  For quick emails and blogging (hehehe), pwedeng-pwede na ‘to.  Bakit ba ngayon ko lang nadiscover ‘to?  Hmp!  Kainis. 

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May isusulat ako… medyo mahaba.  Hindi kasya ang 30-minute limit ko dito eh.  Saka na lang, basta hintayin niyo. =)

Ang maganda sa Canada, they really show off their great flora and fauna kahit sa kaliit-liitang park nila.  At dahil malapit na uli ang taglagas, kailangan lubus-lubusin na ang pagpicture sa kanila.  (Side note:  Malapit na talaga ang Fall, 7 degrees kaninang umaga!).  Heto ang ilang pictures ko ng mga super gandang bulaklak dito sa Toronto.

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Toronto International Film Fest din ngayon.  Madami daw artista, pero wala pa rin akong nakikita til now.  Pumunta nga kami nung isang araw sa Yorkville para mag-"stargazing" pero kahit falling star wala akong nakita.  Pero siyempre, di mawawala ang kodakan!  Hehehe…

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Nung isang araw, pumunta ulit ako ng Casa Loma. Sinamahan ko kasi yung ka-opisina ko na hindi pa nakapunta dun. Pumunta rin kami sa Queen’s Park kasi kahit dun eh hindi pa siya nakakarating. Naging instant tour guide tuloy ulit ako. Eto lang ang pictures worthy of posting eh… Hehehe…

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Nanaginip ako kagabi… Tumatakbo daw ako, parang part pa nga ako ng isang marathon or kung ano mang contest na takbuhan. Ang daming familiar faces ang nakita ko dun. Siguro nami-miss ko lang sila. Di bale, malapit na tayong magkita-kita.

Pagbangon ko kahapon, naisipan kong mag-breakfast sa America.  So I got my car keys and I head off to New York. 

Hahaha!  As if totoong may kotse ako no?  Pero totoo ngang nag-breakfast ako sa America kahapon.  Hinatid kasi namin ang aming new-found friend sa Buffalo Airport sa New York kaya ayun dun na rin kami nagbreakfast. 

On our way back to Toronto, we decided to have a side trip to Niagara Falls’ American side.  Ang ganda!  Mas gusto ko siya kesa dun sa Canadian side!  Eto ang ilang pictures namin:

US Flag at Buffalo Int’l Airport

Breakfast at Denny’s

Trolley at Niagara Falls Park, New York

Trolley

Niagara River and Canada’s horseshoe falls at the back

Niagara Falls American side

Somewhere over the rainbow

Casinos in Canada

Nag factory outlet din kami kahapon in search of laptop and other stuff. Grabe! Nalagasan ako ng 300+ dollars kakabili sa TH. Okay lang naman, maganda naman yung nabili ko eh. Tsaka marami na rin naman siya. Pag-uwi namin dumaan muna kami sa Lakehouse para mag-lunch. Ang sarap ng food!!! Grabe!!! Sulit ang ibinayad namin sa kanila, as in! Eto pa ang ilang pictures nung pauwi na kami pati na rin ang mga pinaglaruan ko sa camera ko. Hehehe…

Lakehouse

Calamari (kumakain na ako ng Calamari!!!)

Ang aking pasta… bow

Salt and Peppa!

Condiments please

Alms, alms, give me a piece of bread

Cork

Wishing well

~0~ After several hours, we finally arrived in Toronto. The skies were great and I just can’t help but take a picture of it.

Naalala ko lang bigla yung mga ‘bonding moments’ ko with my friends.  Sabi sa dictionary, bond daw is a connection that fastens things together.  Narealize ko tuloy na sa buhay natin, ang dami bonding moments na nangyari at mangyayari pa.  HIndi lang nga pampamiya, pang-isports pa…este pang kung anu-ano pala. 

Nung bata pa ako, sinabihan ako ng tatay ko na wag daw galawin yung Mighty Bond niya (ang Mighty Bond para sa hindi nakakaalam ay isang paste na mas matindi pa ang powers kesa sa Elmer’s Glue).  Sabi niya, masyado daw yung madikit at mahihirapan daw tanggalin yun kung sakaling dumikit sa kamay ko.  Eh dahil bata pa ako at makulit, di ako nagpapigil.  Ayun, nagkadikit ang daliri ko.  Hahaha!  Iyon ang bonding moment ko kay Mighty Bond.

Nung maliliit pa kaming magkakapatid, mahilig kaming maglaro ng kung anu-ano.  Yun na ang bonding moments namin nun. Wala naman kasi kaming masyadong laruan dahil hindi naman kami may-kayang pamilya.  Pero okay na rin, kasi nadevelop ang creativity namin.  Dati, si Mama at si Papa lang ang may kutson na kama.  Kaya kapag wala sila, nandun kami sa kwarto nila para maglaro.  May laro kami nun na may hihiga sa kama tapos irorolyo yung kama hanggang maabot yung dulo.  Minsan ako yung ginawa nilang palaman.  Para akong isang malaking sushi!  Hahaha!  Aba, inupuan ba naman ng mga kapatid ko yung nakarolyong kama… ayun hindi ako makahinga sa loob.  Muntikan na akong mamatay sa bonding moment na yun.

Iba-iba ang trip ng mga naging kaibigan ko.  Nung elementary ako, bonding moments na namin ang maglaro ng sipa, putbol, monkey-monkey, shake-shake-shampoo, langit-lupa at mataya-taya.  Nung high school, bonding moments na namin ang kumain ng lunch sa bahay at maglaro ng La Cucaracha sa Glico’s sa Alabang Town Centre pagkatapos ng kada Periodical Exams.  Ay pwede na rin sigurong bonding moments ang recess, dahil sa haba ng pila sa canteen eh makakapagbond talaga kayo.  Hahaha!  Nung college naman, bonding moments na nun ang maupo sa UTMT, pumunta sa Baluarte, maglakad sa Luneta papuntang Taft pag pauwi na, bumili ng used na libro sa Recto at magkopyahan ng assignments (pati na rin sa exam…heheh).  At dahil mas malaya nung college, may mga bonding moments din sa Bulacan na may swimming at inuman pa. 

Ang isang bonding moment lang na medyo inayawan ko eh nung i-bond ako sa dati kong opisina.  Sumama kasi akong magbakasyon sa Thailand nun.  Kasama rin sa bond ko yung training kung saan pinadala ako sa ibang bansa.  Pero tapos na yun at nabayaran ko na rin ang mga bond na yan, kaya wag na rin nating pag-usapan. 

Pero sa tingin ko, ultimate bonding moments happen during times of adversities.  Sabi nga nila di ba, makikilala mo ang mga tunay mong kaibigan kapag may problema ka.  Pero actually, dapat i-qualify pa natin ng konti yan eh.  Kung may problema ka kasi minsan, marami talagang taong magpapakita ng concern… pero di mo sila pwedeng iconsider kaagad na kaibigan mo.  Meron kasing mga genuine yung concern, yung iba, pa-effect lang.  Ngayon, if you will be able to separate the genuine from the pa-effect ones, then that is great.  Remember to keep them.  Surely, mas magiging masaya ang mga susunod niyong bonding moments dahil kasama mo siyang hinarap yung problema mo. 

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Gusto ko na ulit ng masasayang bonding moments.  Alam ko… nararamdaman ko… malapit na ulit yun. =)

I know, matagal ng lumabas ang ‘Umbrella’ ni Rihanna (parang ang pangit yatang pakinggan nun ah…hahaha!).  Pero narinig niyo na ba ang kay Mandy?  Eto… ang isa sa latest faves ko.  (Thanks to MandyMooreUmbrella of U-tsub for the vid).

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