I'll Be Coming Back, Hotlanta!

Awmien...don't they have decent life vests?

I abandoned my day job for 5 days to go to a convention. My flight was at 11pm. I arrived at O'Hare Chicago Airport 7am. It was only a four hour flight but Chicago was 2 hours ahead. As if I wasn't time warped enough, I hopped on a connecting flight to Atlanta, Georgia. They are on Eastern time, one hour ahead of Chicago. I am rattling off all these because I remember how my sister remarked that nobody ever talks about the inconveniences of travelling. Why, the time difference of places already makes me dizzy! 

But all that did not matter as soon as the plane landed. Imagine the elation of a Vancouverite stepping foot on Atlanta on a balmy 30'C afternoon.

Random building outside Five Points station.

As most conference trips go, it was a little bit hectic as workshop breaks were spent brisk walking around the 3.9 million square foot Georgia World Convention Center from one session to another. It was worth it though. I learned more about the company (not my day job's company, reserve for future posts!).  I met and listened to inspiring people. These people are so passionate with what they do and they impressed upon me the importance of heart and ethics in business. 

Outside the Georgia Dome

Atlanta is a city steep in history. I would have loved to stay longer to explore such an interesting place. I'm not complaining though. I think I covered a good number of things considering the fraction of leisure time we had. I can check these off now: 

• Drink free Strawberry Daiquiri's in a bar. Super nice bartender at Taco Mac. Thanks! 

• Go Clubbing. I was probably the most sober person in the club. I was saving energy to get to an early morning session the next day. Maybe I'll do it again next time when there's more room to...uhm, let loose. Or maybe, I'm just way past this thing.

Marta

• Commute and ride Marta (that's what they call their line, I just found out that it's an acronym for Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)

• Stay in the dirtiest inn ever. Whatever you do, DO NOT and I repeat, do not stay in Microtel Inn. Perhaps it was because they made the mistake of putting us in the smoking floor but they should not have made that mistake in the first place. And inexpensive should never be an excuse for dingy and dusty rooms!

•  Eat Southern Fried Chicken. Not quite contented about this. I had ribs with a side of sweet potato fries and okra at the airport. Yummy! I love ribs forever! For sure, I'll be back to go to those homegrown places that have been serving real good Southern food for years, complete with the ambience and all. 

• Visit Margaret Mitchell's apartment where she penned one of my grandmother's favorite novels, Gone With The Wind. Honestly, that novel has been sitting on our old bookshelf ever since I can remember. My grandma read it, my aunts read it, my mother read it. To be honest, I've only seen the movie in one of my insomniac moments and haven't read the book. Now I will have to borrow one from the library, that's for taking it for granted. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

• Go to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. Another reason to go back is to visit MLK's home. We were only able to visit the museum and the Ebenezer Church where he preached. It was nothing short of inspiring. You can't help but shed a tear and be filled with emotion and awe for such a courageous leader. His biography will be a great read which I haven't gotten to do yet. Really, the freedom that younger generations enjoy today were fought for in the past.

I'll be back in two years, with better photos and more money. Set that in stone. Thanks Atlanta!

IJ

Hunny the Mini Globe Trotter presents: Oslob, Cebu

 

Before these stale photos turn spoiled rotten, I'd like to share my love affair with Cebu for year 2013. This year's adventure was all about Oslob where I conquered the fear of giant sea creatures and of death by drowning. I also enjoyed a little tour around the historical corners of the small, quiet town.

Love in the time of Tourist Diarrhea

Bacnotan, La Union

0602013 7:04PM

You would have been in Tuguerarao, talking to your boss about how majestic the Callao Cave was or complaining how steep the stairway leading to it. You would have been enjoying the famous Pancit Batil Patong for dinner as you watched a recap episode of The Voice in your hotel room. You would have completely written your schedule down for the week: 

Naguillan, Isabela tomorrow, 

Tabuk, Kalinga on Tuesday, 

Lamut, Ifugao  on Wednesday,

Homebound right after Lamut

But no, you're not in Tuguegarao and you still haven't had a bite since 3pm. Earlier that day (or even the day before that), you've self-diagnosed yourself with some tourist diarrhea (TD). So, your boss has insisted to cut your trip short and send you back to the barracks. You look at your watch and find out that you have been on the road for 9 hours (!). Your stomach begins to squirm, warning you of another round of pain and discomfort. Darn that delicious adobong bituka -slash- yesterday's lunch! 

But you don't really regret sampling that carinderia dish nor having to sit on your butt for almost half a day. Despite the frustrated leisure trip to somewhere else, you still enjoy the homebound ride. You've passed through those roads several times, yet you still find pleasure in noticing new things/places around you. In fact, you have updated your To-do/Go-to lists with your new little discoveries. you realize even in the time of TD, what matters is the journey, not the destination.

Though you've dreaming about Callao Cave for a month now, you think, "well, wth. There's always another time for that. For now, I'll enjoy the sunset outside my window. 

And also, that week-long rest in Baguio City."

Hello

Thank you HC for undertaking the daunting task of writing the obligatory intro post! It brought back so many fond memories. I don't think I have any more incriminating photos, at least none that I can easily find!

That first photo was taken after our glee club's kid-friendly performance of Miss Saigon. The more recent photo was taken at Bigby's restaurant in our city. It's one of those restaurants every one in town goes to after graduation or some event. I distinctly remember the burnt taste of their innocent looking cream soup. Why they served it, I have no idea but  we were having too much fun to complain. 

Now that we are zip codes and time zones apart, there is all the more reason to document those funny and crazy moments. We also find that even though we are not together, we still have similar experiences: middle class woes, the constant re-evaluation of our lives and careers (or the lack of it on my part!), shared love of travelling and some unmentionable follies. Inspired by my sister's and her friend's blog, HC and I decided to steal their idea so we can have a place for our thoughts about these experiences. I hope they will be as fabulous as what our young selves imagined. But as they say, life is what you make it.

IJ