And this is me- writing in an ungodly hour (but perhaps posting a few hours after). How was your year? Mine went pink (previous post) and fantastic, thanks to the easing of the pandemic and to the wonders of the Philippines to which I am grateful for. Months ago, I was able to travel back to Negros - a region in this archipelagic country I would frequently visit. My entry to this part of the Philippines from Manila was usually through Dumaguete- we fly in. On this particular trip, the rest of the family had to leave earlier than me. I had to wait a wee bit before I can travel because work went quite challenging those days. To that I was grateful for my sister as she had been on top of the travel plans of the family - prepared all flights (mine was set to be manageable whilst traveling alone), local transportation, and hotel bookings that I wouldn’t be able to manage at that point. I was able to fly in with lounge access, priority seat booking, van pick-up (although “tricycle” transport would have been adorable too), and a great welcome from the hotel-resort staff at The Henry. I had tons of photos (in IG and FB) that I cannot regretfully share here, but some of which I can was posted to let you know how “The Henry” was perhaps one of the best decisions during that trip. Aside from it being memorable to the family (our cousins had their wedding there a few years ago), it had one of the more luxurious services and friendly staff- both aspects I adored. Luckily, restaurants and cafes in this hotel-resort also served: (1) a good selection of coffee, (2) cakes! (3) great breakfast and that delicious orange juice, (4) a yummy set of tapas, (5) and the “ambience”, also one of the things I really enjoyed. Dinner at La Mensa was also something to be remembered- especially with their good selection of wine and that huge tomahawk steak. The rest of our Dumaguete trip was about family and our usual stops- the mall for “pasalubong” shopping, an unli-breakfast stop after our Siquijor trip, visits to relatives and seeing friends, and that was it.
We’ll probably be back very soon as we would need a longer time to explore the island (as usual). But that weekend was definitely one for the books (and the blog that is). What I will remember about this year? All the pinkness in Edinburgh. and the pinkness in Camper and Cabin. Just some of the many pinkness that should be remembered for this year.
This year was a mess.
Although some things went as planned, to be honest, those that went beyond the controllable were heartbreaking. Those that I can control went spot-on. Some of the many things I can share tonight as it is Christmas and we need to sleep early (and we’re doing a replanning of this week since we cannot fly to the islands because Odette happened):
And lo and behold, I’m here. In the tropics. Enjoying the warmth of my birthplace- home. Happier, compared to the last time I was here, but missing my other home- the home I made in that place where laughter and warmth was a morning sight, walks and talks during our Tesco or shops run was the afternoon; and cuddles, takeaways, and chatters culminates my evening. Sometimes I wonder how I survived this year, but then I did and that I am thankful for. I wish your year went OK - bearable. It’s been tough, 2021. And just like that 2020 is commencing...There had been a lack of words to share in a blogpost for the past months in quarantine. The reason behind this negligence in writing revolves around my diversion of thoughts towards my PhD and well, towards other forms of the art object upon which my own “artist” heart indulges. It has its own coping strategy. My heart on art is probably, never full.
On a rather positive note, the lockdown had and is still making me enjoy Edinburgh even more. Albeit the restrictions imposed in a quite global scale “to stay home”, our community in this part of the world is encouraged to take exercises every so often that I take it as an opportunity to explore wonderful places nearby. That being said, I realised I am capable of a lockdown survival, only with a bit of freedom to walk when I need to so I can be totally fine. At present, I am enjoying life as it deemed fleeting- that the wilting flora can be a source of hope for a new season that blooms right after, each shifting shades of greens are now oranges of delight. Summer is over and Autumn is entering the world as if they are bringing in a different hue of joy. While everyone is stressing out their emotions through their social media, of which I am also enjoining by sharing to family and friends images of Edinburgh and memories of home, I can also say that there is calm in this lockdown life. The anxiety of experiencing this shift to what is considered peculiar is balanced with longer days spent in the company of my friends and family. I was able to experience new places by walking weekly with June- exploring the Water of Leith, Blackford Hill, Lochend Park, Duddingston Loch, Portobello, and other places around the city. I was also able to do meaningful lockdown afternoons over a cuppa with Rob and his mum, sometimes over at Dobbie’s, Craigie’s, Tesco, or Morrisons, and once, with the whole fam over some barby. We also had random days taking in short walks to the nearby Scotmid Co-op or taking in a longer walk as we ditched the car and savoured the wonderful open spaces around the Dundas Castle before reaching Tesco. These views all taken in while I walk, had been a refuge from the usual views inside the corners of my room. And just a month ago, I was also blessed with a longer stay at Kuya and James in Birmingham and Yorkshire- which meant a wonderful spread of 3-course meals almost daily- probably one of the best meals I had this lockdown (aside from the healthier spread that is prepared for me sometimes with a smiley on a plate of greens. He’s been adorable). And while it has been oddly aghast to actually write wonderful thoughts when the world is breaking down, I still do for there is hope, or I believe so. There are ways to see the silver lining and mine has always been in the simple things I experience. I end it with that photo of the hill I love going to when I can- Blackford Hill has the majestic view of the city and the Pentlands- places I will adore in this lifetime. The thing about #stayhome is its interchangeability with #staythesame. I’m practically a stay home type of person and I only go out for walks, outdoor sketching, or for some retail therapy, to name my usual daily’s, but most of the time with my present PhD life, stay home is not an option. It’s a lifestyle. There are several aspects of this life that were upgraded though, all worth mentioning in this blog post.
(1) Learning a new video conferencinf app (Zoom) and doing online webinars for sketching. As most of the people transition to be with me in my #stayhome lifestyle, more people also learn new ways of communicating- whilst a new skill to most of us. Zoom has been great, or might I say exciting. Its features made me communicate while sharing my screen during my m online webinars for sketching (a thing I can only do before through Google hangouts but through zoom, other members can also share annotations real time and i really needed that feature THANK YOU ZOOM), doodling in real time when I share my webinar to friends, and being creative with my backgrounds. The latter was what kept me staying in Zoom, and I think most of my friends who meet me in that virtual space has seen my crazy leaps and travels to villas around the world, to wonderful interior spaces, to thematic gardens that I’ve been to or wish to be at this Springtime. At the end of the day, the silverlining in not traveling has actually given me time to reflect and recall the wonderful adventures I had through Zoom as the platform. I’d probably be there more often than possible really. (2) My indoor repurposed potpourri and edible re-gardening skills (using repurposed milk cartons and food cans). As I see more garbage bins fill-up daily in my student accommodation (as these are my daily view from my window), the battle to go #zerowaste kicked in and ergo, my new love for repurposing and re-gardening. I presently enjoy this new skill of not throwing my veggie “trash” to replant them and now they’re blooming, feeding me again with new greens and showing off with some new flowers. So far, been successful with spring onions, lettuce, pakchoi, garlic and some chili (still a baby plant). My Thyme, Basil, and Curly Parsley are also still alive after being with me for the whole #stayhome season and i’m basically green-fed for weeks now, as they also continuously feed me with new leaves every week. This will also not happen if I did not repurpose my milk cartons and cans as well. Less trash is love. Aside from the re-gardening, i also realise the massive food waste I’ve been making from eating so much orange and lemon daily so i’ve gone thinking of ways to repurpose them as well- now my new skill of drying fruits and flowers for my homemade DIY potpourri. This is probably the funniest activity, picking up random flowers, foliage, and mechanics and especially thinking of ways to repurpose all the flowers that I try to buy to spruce up my room but has now wilted after a week or so. At the end of the day, it extends the marvellous beauty of the petals while making me enjoy the scents of my room oils longer. No need for oil reed diffusers. (3) More synced watching sessions and scheduled regular calls and zoom sessions with organisations, colleagues, and friends. So as we tried doing it as a “barkada”, now most of my friends would encourage everyone to do the same, which is more synchronised than ever. I get to spend and talk about wonderful stories and get updated with them more. On the organisation perspective, I also get to enjoy and see more people regularly (usually every Tuesday with the Academy in Scotland), and some friday’s/monday’s for the young urbanists or Academy in London. I also enjoyed getting a bit of feedback from the kids in GG. I’m basically overjoyed to see more people while not really leaving my PhD post- which is my table haha. (4) Cooking sessions with my rice cooker. I have now mastered making “puto cheese” in less than an hour, made rice cooker chocolate cake with fudge (which i made for Easter Sunday), searing ribeye and sirloin steak in a rice cooker and cooking my steak perfectly well. I also learned how to do jackfruit adobo, being a recent highlight of my cooking life, as well as other skills like upgrading my soup cans with pasta, creating chicken pot, etc. I’m basically alive and fed thanks to my rice cooker. Ofcourse, learning this is not possible without some cooking show inspirations- my favorite being Ready Steady Cook and the Great British Menu (but haven’t really made one from that show because they’re all PRO, and i’m just a PRO-crastinator.😂) (4) Scheduled weekly walks from the constant gym dates with June. So as the gym is closed while in the interim, June and I have not stopped and moved outdoors to enjoy our exercises through walks while “social distancing”. We’ve done a lot of city walks, beach walks, mountain and hill hikes, and basically all the enjoyable crazy stops for the wonderful adventures we get thanks to Mother Nature. It makes me happy that the landscape soldiers on despite our non-existence and at the same time, happy as it got a breather from all the man-made chaos. Sometimes I feel selfish to think Nature should actually get this more often every year- a time to heal so we can live again. Just a thought. (5) More outdoorsy “time together” options and updating while “social distancing” with R. As we also need to focus on our work, and holidays are not as constant for us both, we now realise how fun it is to take longer walks skipping the car just to go to Tesco, also doing our regular tea sesh outside at his home’s balcony and just slow down when we both can. At this present crazy adulting, the only way to move forward is to just PAUSE... and stopping through our regular crazy banter and calls as well as walks (when he can get off from work almost every month now Except during this #stayhome and it’s taking its toll on the temporality of our shared experiences). I think I learned and presently learning a lot of new software and apps as well, including the ease of the tablet- no need for the mouse when i work on my laptop. This stay home is a good way to also learn new things- online courses included. “In an endless garden of flowers, I see you running. In the filters of Spring, I see you smiling. B.” This. And that so far, is my #stayhome life. Documenting it in a blog is a nice reflective practice as BJ announced a #stayalert directive for us here. Change is again, happening. And I’m not sure if I would like it. Probably the highlight of my 2020 is this— my family celebrated the holidays with me this year, in this wonderful city that is also my home.
The rest of the stories are written in my other social media platforms (where those relevant to us can actually get a glimpse of the more pertinent details related to the trip), but i’ll start doing my chronicles with photos of the wonderful United Kingdom thanks to that first holiday with my family this year. I’ll catch up on the details worthy of blogging soon! Hello to the returning visitors (yup, I know, thank you for reading!). Hope you’re getting by, despite the most challenging start of 2020! We’ll carry on, we will. “And in the grey clouds, I saw the pink skies. And with a wee bit of stardust, I am floored.”
This year was not precisely grey. Albeit its peculiarities, it was a massive bag full of surprises and a breather I will always be grateful for. The first quarter of 2019 made me value even more, the beautiful creations in my homeland, the Philippines. Adding value to this wonderful place entailed a closer observation of the landscapes (that I am observing FOREVER thanks to the path I have chosen) through its attributes- a task I did this quarter. The first quarter in retrospect was a story enriched with macro to micro attributes that were mostly connected on highly valued PEOPLE. One of the good reflections associated with my first quarter delves on the lightness I felt from the landscapes I am blessed with. I am grateful for the landscapes that are composed of “personal and fairly beloved or let's say dearest” components of it. These are my family and friends. More so, I appreciate all these crazies even more because they enrich the landscape in aspects that are new to me- a landscape of people who care in different languages of love and affection. As I am and will always become part of this landscape, I also realise that my family and friends which are essential components of it are my bearers of strengths - pushing me into facing fears of failures associated with life and health being on top of it. Also, I realise their value in times of grieving, which is rather an unnatural occurrence for a daily encounter. They make it quite bearable. They are the warmth I always need to process this feeling. My lightness. As we go along and force our way into the second quarter, heavier bags with burden went with it. I lost friends, we lost friends. We lost them in different ways and forms: some friends went up to the heavens, some friends crossed the rainbow bridge, and some friends just weren't looking at "friendship" the same way as you do. Perhaps, they weren't "friends" to begin with and that is ok. But in the aspect of moving forward, this quarter taught me how to choose to move on with them in our hearts and minds irregardless of the circumstances... And I went on and faced 2019 with this strength to overcome the losses. In the end, the coping mechanisms I discovered were highlights of my life; and to not be burdened by the emptiness is “winning”. I slowly filled the days with loving memories of new encounters that reminded me of the successes of genuine friendships. One of the many wins of 2019. The second quarter of 2019 was a struggle, primarily because of health-related and PhD logistics-related concerns. It was an ordeal I found most challenging while I was alone in a foreign country, yet I was indeed grateful to experience it at a point in my life where I was free to assess my own capacity to “handle stress”. The independence was delightful. Facing the unknown was not. My assessment of my well being resulting from that heavy load of the 2nd quarter was rather entertaining, perhaps if my life was on the telly. An oversight that could have been a good live comedy! I have forgotten to plan my life and prepare contingencies, would you believe that? Probably if you knew me from the past 10 years or so, you’d glare at me and look at me with judgment that this is not who I am. But just like any of us, the imperfections are now glistening in red sparkling splendour that became a reminder that I cannot always be at my optimum. I can be weak, too. EMERGENCY! WARNING! WHY AM I NOT READY FOR THIS! And I though 2018 has been the best lesson and the initial reaction I had for this quarter was to foster the feeling of disappointment? Nah. And so I went on with DROPPING WHAT I FIND REGRETFUL AND PROCEEDED WITH MY ULTIMATE SELFCARE- books, family and friends time, and long walks to be amused with places and the moving objects in the universe. I lived. Probably one of the more exciting processes that I had to undergo to be able to move forward with life is this quarter- and just like that I started to breathe again... I started to bring back the soul that yearns for adventurous learning (haha insert BEAMES here for reference. Still a researcher by heart). I started to consider doing the unplanned. I started savouring the wonderful moments of my daily adventures. Indeed, there were learnings and strength that I was able to gain, and in the end, real friendships that stayed and took care of me when I was at my weakest- alone yet not really. Thanks especially to Felicia (who was required to visit me HAHA BECAUSE SHE’S GRADUATING! Haha! The flatmate now my French sister, we’re Masseys when we’re in Paris. oui!) and Liang Liang (forever flatmate! Hahaha! And my Taiwanese sister, so we’re CHEN’s if we’re in Taiwan and London!) and Pina (my doctor friend! Who I cannot say “I don’t feel well” to because she panics like a real doctor with first aid thoughts. Lol!) and forever my family in the UK- the MontPeels HAHA! Speechless but my real home in the UK- forever thirdwheelin’ during this lovely couple’s daily honeymoon. CHOS! “panira sa quality time nila talaga ako” as I may say.😆 Those who tried to visit me and find out if I am ok or who just cleared their schedule even if I didn’t ask them to do so. Real friends who need not ask but just came over to check on me. Special mention to Daniela and June (Mane, Suzanne and Nesli), my PhD GF’s who pushed me to health and wellness aims by literally calibrating our PhD daily schedule with constant exercise, chatters, and healthy food goals.😂 And Kay- after years of not seeing each other, now a reason to go to London! Now, she’s moving to Oxford welll loook at that this girl is STRONG! Hail our queen researcher! Heart to friendships that are rekindled by our innate “kadramahan”, “kaartehan”, and our geekness in the form of research and the daily battle for raw data, data processing, data management, and personal “me” time with the remaining time we can have at night - the daily grind we love to do. The third quarter was healing- physically and emotionally. The support team I prayed, for now, had a good leader in the form of a crazy being who just went on with cheering me on my daily wins. While my family and friends worry back home (with my sister flying in for our “trolling” but really, for a minor drama that is a surgical procedure that is NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT [ok slightly or not really slight but whatever, nothing for social media concern so don’t ask because I know you want to but I won’t tell] but I hate hospitals, so they worry on that drama that is soooo me HAHA), I was here trying to learn how to win every time thanks to the leader of my sport called- survival of life game. HAHA. And going back, third quarter is the kindest because I learned to choose “me” daily thanks to that “super” support. “King in the North”. QUITE LITERALLY ACTUALLY. HAHAHA! Now, I am learning how to say no when I don’t want to; I am also learning how to shut off manipulation when I can; and I am learning that my financial decisions for the family are spot on and should not be affected by those who put judgments in their hearts and minds. I am learning, and this last one hits home. In hindsight the challenges were heavier for this third quarter round, not just for me but also for this king or rather, for this very strong man. Quite irrelevant as I hide it in my own jest (and him in dark humour), but when “you got this!” and “keep it together!” went beyond what my/our fragile heart/s can take in, the best lesson for this part of my/our 2019 journey is acceptance of the weakness that no game-strong yoga mantra can change. For my part of the drama, which I can articulate because I can speak for myself in this aspect, I have accepted the fact that I’m a coward in the hospital (THAT IS WHY I WILL NEVER VENTURE INTO MEDICAL SCIENCE BLOODY HELL is blood and hell combined and medical science for me is BLOODY HELL). It was harrowing to go back to the hospital (the drama, right? HAHA!) So in the true essence of “yes you can”, seriously, I really can’t! HAHA! As I stare at my countdown calendar, and while he went balancing most of his time for his family as it was the most difficult quarter for them, he did manage to direct me towards the goal to go back to the hospital and muster all my strength to see the results of my surgery. And at the back of my head- I constantly prayed that this man was winning his life battles, too. His battles were heavier. But that strength I was seeing was beyond compare. And he is honestly, unselfishly sharing his strength- that aspect of my life that I cannot develop yet again because this burden was pinning me down- to me. Such is the King of the North. “How am I supposed to sit here planning a war, when you're over there looking like that?”- Robb Stark. Literally. So I joined in. I gained courage. Hail! Ofcourse in “joining” he managed to give me small treats of long walks and drives to see places as well as food (luring me once into choosing a “healthier” restaurant HAHA EATING a “vegan” MEAL) that made me quite a healthy fatso (or not yet because I’ll win this battle with fats too). I was probably treated literally like a dog in that way with treats on that crucial day when I was at my most anxious self. But I went to the hospital. NOT ALONE. I went inside the doctor’s room with someone. I was relieved and I had a free pancake brunch for actually winning this drama in my life. PAT ON THE HEAD I GUESS. Damn I think I was fooled there. I was really treated like a dog. HAHAHAHA! Free treats just to go to the hospital. HAHA KIDDING. But also the third quarter was also the busiest with me being a cat because I was always validated by those dear to me to relax every so often and pause. Like too often, it went “are you sure this is not procrastination?” Oopsie! I can be lazy as well on days when I hide and read a good book all day during the healing weeks (lazy means no PhD work for a few hours and no phone for most of the day because I have been reading leisurely as part of my task now). Also, I was validated that in the process of healing, you let go and choose happiness, love and kindness. That given a choice, these three top choices are fine because I wanted it- that genuine compassion and love actually means I am choosing the path that is truthful and the path that does not foster conflict. But also, that speaking what’s in my head is normal and should be ok. I have a voice. This is what I am thankful for. I am granted access to get to know an understanding soul who listens and who does not put judgment. Seldom, seldom. This kind of kindness in my life is rare. This gift, which I received quite early Lord (I’m Catholic by the way), has been provoking some tears here and there (the true crier self emerging now), because adjusting to this type of kindness is too much a blessing (again, too early! My heart is grateful). But a good friend of mine has told me one thing, YOU DESERVE IT. With lots of heart emoticons there, too. And that too made me teary eyed (yet again. all the time). Too much tears, third quarter (aside from too much tears because the wound of that surgical procedure hurts like hell HAHAHA. Low pain tolerance apparently but pain manager of a doctor sister has been “on it”. That too, my sister, is a blessing all the time). The last quarter is literally FAMILY time- from my most inner circle of #nadalsofwindylane, to my Nadal and Suan clan, my auntie and uncle in Cebu being probably my mom and dad of the second degree, then goes on with my friends, Faoey Kim and Ice; as well as my GF’s Talia and April Marie and their families; Leslie Anne in SG; Kl and Ken the crazy couple who are dearly beloved traveling sweethearts who never fail to ask how I am all the way from Canada; Ayit my forever kumare who listens and shares in my uncanny humour and who is getting married!; Pam and Frankie being at the frontline in the stress battle - my “strain” takers (as a result of my stress HAHA KALA MO METAL AKO WEW), and my PALA and Faculty and REx families who have been my constant source of energy (workmates hail yeah!). Special shoutout to my J FAM (forever. The angels who control and enable my “commercialised” and “commodified” choices in life) and the KK ladies who have done a major milestone in their lives this year (IFLA APR WAS THE BEST. Di na tayo nag-celebratete nang bongga aside from KARAOKE na nagwala si Hannah omgeez) Also, I get to see Armida who is an extended family “ate” in the Brum but is now in Qatar- which also means I visited another country aside from transiting its airport. HooraYAY! So in the words of my meditation class, “2019, you are the kindest year to me. LOVE AND KINDNESS.” And now I am ending this year with happiness. I am facing the UNKNOWN (just like in FROZEN which IS LOVE, TOO! So that’s also a 2019 win... and insert all the movies of 2019... that I am finally watching movies again). I am facing 2020 with the same mantra that pushed me to get through the challenging 2019 -ALWAYS WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS. And while I am writing this, my Christmas gifts came rather early again- the gift of family and a WHITE CHRISTMAS with family. And that is the greatest gift I can ever receive this season. And that is why 2019 and CHRISTMAS is and will always be memorable. ...and again... “In the grey clouds, I saw the pink skies. And with a wee bit of stardust, I am floored.” Always floored. 2020 will be wonderful and I am claiming it. October is fleeting and the month just threw in a pat on the back. As it's an epilogue, I managed to reflect on the exhilarating stories I gathered from the people who matter this month- most of them nearer to my home (which is Edinburgh at present). Probably the first of the many learnings I get from this city is also the most crucial lesson I have always been holding on to- that of HAPPINESS being rather an important CHOICE everyday. One of the many reasons why most of us struggle with our lives is because we don’t choose happiness in most of our life battles, that in every challenge we choose to hurt ourselves in the process of making others happier. For this month, I realised that at certain moments, and in this case I hope I do this more often than not, we should ultimately make happiness of primacy even in the most simple decisions we encounter daily. In this case, I speak with its context particularly delving on the fact that happiness is indeed, making sure that your heart and soul is alive and breathing. We need to choose happiness that keeps our heart at ease. As a choice, the travels this months are those that warms the heart. Most of these travels, in a nutshell, are walks and talks and some snuggles here and there because this month is turning up its A/C way too sooner than necessary. ”brrr” is definitely on it's way in this city and that is said while i’m feeling the cold northern breeze typing in some “chilly” texts while walking down Pleasance Street. The rest of the travelogue this October are listed down below in photos. I’m trying to document as much while I can in texts and images because this is how I know blogging since 17-18 years ago? I’ve always been tempted to shift to “moving” media but the stillness makes everything alive (plus no time to post edit, really). Happy October! [posting in a public setting my gratitude to the person who brought me to places I haven’t been to, who walked with me and guided me to the trail hikes up the hills {that I never would have done alone}, who also survived lazy days because we needed that too, and who went shopping for my random need for artsy things in my life. Your patience is a wee bit fiery as the “ginger leaves” (always warm) and your presence is my “cloudy grey speckles of firedust” (always magical). To crazier and more amazing days of our life]
“Life and its peculiarities.”
That is the theme for the past few months. My life story of battling the Narnia that is my UK\PH life has gone from a massive zombie attack (like World War Z-ish) to A Disney enchantment (and Moana’s How Far I’ll Go went on repeat). I’m still doing my Ph.D. Also, In the dismay of some and the happiness of many, I am still living. I am continuously hoping that in every breath I take, i’m keeping only the positivity that is me and the people dear to me. The past month was a successful battle to accomplish some Ph.D. Tasks, spend more time learning about the world and meet new friends. In the ”captivating” challenge to let fate reveal my life’s peculiarities, I faced an unexciting Friday the 13th last month- a day when I lost my dearest cat pin alongside the day someone dearest had lost his family’s North. But in that struggle, I realised how life is indeed a process and all we can do is to process these changes in our lives in magic dusts of TIME AND FAMILY. Just family. No one else. Also, I also learned that holes in our hearts cannot be caused by anyone else but yourself, so self reflection is key. No one has the right to shout or raise their voices to another soul just because they are hurting. Also, that a change in another’s life must not change you as well. There are different processes and healing is different for every person. Also last month, I learned more of what I am and what I can sans all the negative energies. Also, that I shouldn’t be anyone less for those who feel less. That “Me” being kind and selfless is not something to bring me down. That to each person is a speckle of stardust to let you fly. I can soar and be at peace the way I know I can. And although the weather has always been rather “grey” lately, there it is, my sunshine. “Sunshine on Leith” [The Proclaimers] You saw it, You claimed it You touched it, You saved it My tears are drying, my tears are drying Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you My tears are drying, my tears are drying Your beauty and kindness Made tears clear my blindness While I'm worth my room on this earth I will be with you While the Chief, puts Sunshine On Leith I'll thank him for his work And your birth and my birth. I finally visited one of my many Scottish dream destinations. And this time around, I visited the place which was on top of my list- the Isle of Skye. This August, I went of and experienced the most exhilarating landscape of my lifetime. I have been saving-up for this trip since I started studying here. It was supposedly planned last June/July 2017, but gladly it didn’t push thru because I wouldn’t have spent this trip with anyone else than the person I was with this year. Better memories, all the laughs and crazy photos, trollin’ in every stop. It was a last minute plan before I underwent the “cuts and needles”. And this choice being soo dreamy made me realise life is fantastic, to a fault- that every desaturated tones of grey skies are warm hues of lichens and flora; that in each step taken in the green wonderland are blue’s revealed by the ebb of the tide. They’d say this can be experienced somewhere nearer my homeland (New zealand being a close competitor). But I’d say nothing beats The Scottish Highlands. And i’m saying this with the landscape richness that I saw as I experienced the travel to and fro. This place was definitely surreal. Immersing in this landscape- BREATHTAKING.
Also, thank you Hairy Coo for such a wonderful tour with our guide and driver, Scott. The banter was spectacular, did not put me to sleep. And the musical “score” was superb. His taste in music, definitely wonderful and apt. But again, the review to follow (but not in my blog). I do hope I can bring more people in this wonderland. But right now, I’m bringing home all the memories there is. |
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Lifeisatravelogue by CDSNadal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. |