Dec 31 2007
Memoirs From The Departure Lounge
Once again, I find myself sitting in another airport departure lounge — this one in Cebu, Philippines — facing an ironic conundrum.
As noted below, I absolutely ABHORRED The Philippines when I first arrived here. I got injured, attacked, scammed, and essentially robbed. Not a good beginning, and I found myself questioning the motives of both myself and all other foreigners for even being in country in the first place.
All that is far, far in the past … seemingly to have never happened.
Honestly, I am at the most peaceful happiest point on my trip in quite a long time.
I have met some extraordinary people in Siargao that I now consider to be some very close friends. I have had some of the best surfing in the past year. And although I am extremely excited to be heading to Sri Lanka in a couple days, I am also extremely disappointed to be leaving my new friends.
I finally 'got' this area of the Philippines. And I've found really don't want to leave it.
We will see what Sri Lanka holds for me. And I also plan to visit my friends in Indonesia for a couple months during the summer. But I think I may have found what I've been looking for … at least on some level. And I plan on coming back. Possibly for a long time.
Once again, I'm not that concerned. I am happy, and only time will time.
To everyone I know — friends and family both — I wish you all a happy, healthy, safe, and peaceful new year. Essentially, I wish you all may feel like I do right now at this moment. All my best.
Happy New Year, buddy. Be well, be safe, and have a good time.
And by the way - the Horace Pinker reference was to Shocker, the movie…. not the band.
Take care.
Back at you, man. Be safe, have fun, and have a Happy New Year.