“Our journey to Belgium presents me with the exciting opportunity to venture into a new and uncharted territory: travel writing.” (Excerpted from ATABAY article Our Belgian Journey: A Story of Friendship & Faith)
This statement encapsulates my recent shift from personal essays and political commentaries to the captivating genre of travel writing.
What you’re about to read in this natal article and what is to come in my ATABAY exemplifies precisely that – a voyage through words, transporting us to the allure of distant places, the whispers of ancient streets, the promise of shared experiences – the catalysts that ignited my journey into travel writing – hoping to stir your playful imagination.
Buckle up for an exciting ride as we delve into the art of travelogue.
PHILIPPINES, Iligan City, August 7
All Our Bags Are Packed
Idling outside our house gate, the engine of Bro Boy’s car hummed softly in the pre-dawn stillness. The air smelled of dew-kissed grass and anticipation. My wife and I stepped out the door, suitcases in hand, ready to embark on our journey. The house façade, bathed in the gentle glow of the porch light, seemed to hold its breath – a silent witness to countless departures and reunions.
Oddly drawn to nostalgia, I photographed our house a day ago. Not the novelty of its architecture nor the bloom of its garden, but the weathered Mactan stones, the chipped paint, and the window through which sunlight spills like liquid gold. At that moment, I realized it wasn’t just a house; it was a repository of memories – the laughter echoing through its rooms, the whispered secrets shared late at night, the warmth of family gatherings.
Stepping into the car, I caught a glimpse of our house photo saved in my phone -- just like the essence of a faded photograph of a loved one kept in a wallet -- turning into a lucky piece against homesickness. It’s more than pixels on the screen; it’s a bond to the familiar, a lifeline connecting me to the heartbeats of those I love.
And so, as the wheels turned and the landscape blurred, I glanced at that image – the terrace where we sat on lazy afternoons, the eaves sheltering us from monsoon rains – and I’ve carried it with me, not as a mere snapshot, but as a promise: that no matter how far we roam, home etched in our souls.
Hitting the road, I called to mind the comforting Psalm in my daily readings that morning: “The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.”
PHILIPPINES, Manila, August 8
Engine Sound and Airport Slip
On schedule, our PAL aircraft smoothly ascended from Laguindingan Airport en route to Manila. Flying in a relatively newer plane compared to an older one was akin to the contrast between driving a modern car and an antiquated model.
i recalled my previous flight with a different airline. The engine emitted such a jarring noise that it disrupted my composure inside the cabin throughout the journey. It wasn’t merely the type of sound that prevented my light sleep; rather, it triggered a creeping concern upon hearing the reverberation from the relatively older plane’s engine. In my mind’s eye, I conjured up an image of an ill-maintained engine, not just an aging one.
The discrepancy became most pronounced during the takeoff when the engine power reached its full extent. All the more during landing, when the plane maneuvered through gusty crosswinds. The difference stood out when the plane touched down with a certain roughness, and the pilot lowered the landing gear, producing an abrupt creaking sound – a moment of anxiety any passenger would dread at the end of the flight.
Not Bad. The PAL cabin crews directed us, the embarking passengers, in getting off the plane by rows – a subtle and pleasing change for the better.
Not Funny. In the maze of travel logistics, a single misstep can transform a mundane situation into a suspenseful airport thriller.
Picture this: our domestic electronic ticket confidently pointed us toward NAIA Terminal 2 for arrival, while our international flight awaited us at Terminal 3 a few days later. Alas, I made a blunder. In a misguided text, I informed my son JR that our plane would touch down at Terminal 3, leading him to await our arrival there patiently. Little did he know we were disembarking at Terminal 2.
What followed was not the anticipated family meetup, but rather a digital chase between JR and me. Text messages flew back and forth as we unraveled the confusion. His final directive cut through the chaos: “Dy, stay put. A designated Grab car is en route to pick you up. I’ll rendezvous with you later at your hotel.”
And so, amid terminals and text notifications, our airport escapade unfolded – a tale of mix-ups and the promise of a Grab car speeding toward our get-together.
PHILIPPINES, Manila, August 9
Pre-Departure Staycation
Our two-day stay in Manila, just before our departure to Belgium, became a fascinating intersection of past and present. As seniors navigating the bustling city, my wife and I encountered two modern phenomena: Airbnb and Grab. These platforms seamlessly blend tradition with innovation, reshaping the way we experience travel.
Founded in 2008, Airbnb, a beacon of the sharing economy, emerged from a simple need – to pay rent. Recall the college marketing tagline “Find a need and fill it”? Airbnb founders rented out air mattresses in their living room, hence the name AirBed & Breakfast. Today, it boasts over 6.6 million global active listings, empowering homeowners to share their spaces with travelers worldwide.
On the other hand, Grab began as a ride-hailing and evolved into a comprehensive superapp phenomenon triggered by transportation woes where taxi drivers were often associated with robberies and assaults. A desperate need for a solution had turned up; Grab popped up and filled it.
Seniors’ Travel Challenges
In our Manila brief pre-departure staycation, not only did we check into an Airbnb condo, but we also hailed a Grab car online using mobile phones -- bridging the gap between yesterday’s traditions and tomorrow’s innovations. No doubt, these two platforms have redefined travel, emphasized safety, diversity, and community. My daughter Dionne booked our Airbnb reservation, while my son Leigh Roy showed me the Grab ropes from registration to ordering a meal and hailing a car.
Not Easy. On the contrary, the eTravel platform has been a trickier system for digitally challenged travelers, especially seniors. I could only imagine the dilemma being put up with by those who aren’t mobile app-literate. Thank goodness, my son JR stuck up for me while I navigated such an intricate maze.
Let me wrap up this travelogue with a whimsical twist -- a playful modified rendition of timeless lyrics of an oldie but goldie song:
A plane is still a plane
Even when there’s no one boarding there
But a plane is not a house
And a house is not a home
When there’s no one there.
Thank God, our son Leigh Roy with his family is now there, breathing life into our home, ensuring its warmth remains undiminished in our absence.
As I pen these final words from Manila, anticipation fills the air. In mere hours - precisely at 4:55 am on Saturday, August 10th – our journey aboard Turkish Airlines shall commence. Istanbul awaits as our interlude before we venture to Brussels – the heart of Europe.
By divine favor, my next ATABAY travelogues shall bear the Belgium stamp – a love letter to wanderlust, etched in words and longing.
God bless our trip!
Content put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-pilot
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