I know I haven't been writing lately. But I have been working, reading, and traveling. Just this month, I spent nine days - including a 24-hour train ride, going from Hanoi to Siem Reap, with stops at Nah Trang and Phnom Penh.

The best thing about traveling is picking up on all these bits of information and insight along the way. Bits about others and other places, bits about oneself. All of which I happily told my friends.

cable car

I forgot to tell you that, last weekend, I was in Hong Kong again. Last time I was there, I told myself I'd make time to take the cable cars on Lantau Island to the Po Lin Monastery. There's a giant Buddha on the mountain with a swastika on it's chest (apparently the symbol's very Buddhist and not at all racist).

Whenever I travel, I try to do a bit of the pseudo-cultural, touristy thing. Partly because I like taking pictures of people taking pictures (tourists!). So this trip to the monastery was it. Also, I've never been on a cable car, suspended hundreds of feet in the air. I have a heights thing, a real fear of it, to be specific. So this was supposed to be cathartic.

And cathartic it was. We got stuck in mid air for what felt like an hour, but was most likely for fifteen minutes. It was a bit terrifying for me but we've been in tight spots before (elevators, during fire drills), and I was really laughing at the incredulity of it all. We even have a video of the event for posterity, and for leaving behind messages, just in case the cable snapped.

But we made it, we're alive, and that cable car fiasco made it to the top five moments of 2009.

weirdest gig of the year

I haven't mentioned that for almost the whole of last week, I was in Las Vegas and L.A. on assignment. Before anyone thinks this was a high-paying, high-living gig, I'll tell you now, it wasn't.

In the span of the first 48 hours after landing in Vegas, I had to cover Manny Pacquiao's post-fight concert, Manny's victory mass, and a Wowowee episode, then travel to L.A. by land to shoot Manny and Jinkee's house. And during all that, I had to be on my toes just in case we spotted Krista.

It was also ironic that I was in Vegas during the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, but only to see the last round from standing outside a sports bar, the whole freakin' Strip between me and a soundless large screen TV showing Kenny Bayless waiving off the fight. Irony was taken up a notch the next day when I had front row seats at the Wowowee episode being shot in Vegas. I was there, shooting, and making the most of my great view of Willie R's crotch.

It's been years since I've done press coverage and even then it was never this showbiz/gossip stuff. Seriously, for awhile there, I was depressed. But it was also all so surreal and I appreciate the value of that.

And, erm, photos will come out in the January-February issue of YES Magazine, out in the stands by mid-December.

If I'm not mistaken, my first time out of the country was for a trip to Hong Kong. That was with my dad, my brother and my dad's friend, Tito Art. I think I was fourteen or fifteen and I have two distinct memories from that trip. The first was that I was amazed that there were malls right under our hotel, and that they were connected to adjacent hotel/malls such that you could walk miles through shops and not have to step out into the street.

The second was that we ate at this amazing restaurant called the Golden Deer. I actually don't remember what we ate. I just remember that it was on the second floor of a rundown building and that we had to enter through the kitchen. The small dining room was full of expats drinking San Miguel Pale Pilsen, and busboys were pouring used glasses of water on our table to clean it.

Since then I've been to Hong Kong for a number of times, usually on quick weekend trips. I go with friends who know the place pretty well so shopping is executed with surgical precision. I like Hong Kong mostly for the food. I can live on Chinese food, especially Cantonese food with it's roast goose, fresh seafood, and dumplings. I was there again last weekend, this time with my brother who hasn't been back since that first trip fifteen years ago.

And for the first time since I've been visiting, I considered Hong Kong as one of my favorite cities. Favorite enough to half seriously consider living there for awhile. It's fast-paced and modern yet it has a patina of something old like most Asian places. The city is small in size yet there are tons of things to do and places to see, and with an awesome public transport system, it's easy to get around. Also they have ferries! I also like Hong Kong because, unlike Singapore, Hong Kong isn't ultra clean and sterilized. You can smell the harbor, the streets have "texture," and things can go wrong.

Like when I brought my brother to this row of eateries along a back street. I go there with my friends and we usually pick the last eatery because there's a Filipina waitress there who we can order fresh shrimps in garlic, taosi clams, and Tsingtao beer from. Well, she wasn't there this time. So I had to make do by pointing at the photos on the menu. Still instead of getting two cups or steamed rice, I managed to order two platefuls of stir fried noodles (which were good anyway).

Anyway, the thought to live in Hong Kong occurred one night while we were hanging at the beach at Discover Bay. It was a cool night, my feet were in the sand, and we were drinking beer. Well, everyone else was drinking beer. I was having a sundae. Anyway, I felt at peace and content. And I realized that if I could feel that way in a place as crazy as Hong Kong, then this place was special. I'll be back.

Just got back from Palawan. Puerto Princesa this time and just for a vacation. No work whatsoever involved. On this trip, I got to visit the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, which turned out to be slightly unnerving but very cool. I think it's the only place where the prisoners are in charge of the prison gates. I took a photo of the guy whose job it is to sound the bugle call for head count. I want to go back, and shoot a bit more in this interesting place.

I also got to go through an underground river which you enter via a cave on sea-level. That was really great too, but at some time during the 45-minute boat ride in the dark, I started wondering if animatronics and light and sound effects could enhance the experience a bit.

Just this morning, I went dolphin-watching. I saw the dolphins first and called everyone's attention to it. Until the boatman said I was pointing at a bobbing buoy. We then dropped anchor in this place called Turtle Cove. It was like a giant pool with fine sand at the bottom. Around noon, we got back on the boat and had a really good meal of grilled fresh fish, grilled eggplant, boiled shrimp, and adobo.

I almost skipped on today's itinerary. I was seriously considering staying at the hotel, watching cable TV and finishing my Civil War book.

If it weren't for work, or more adventurous friends, I'd never be able to see these places. And even when I'm already at these sort of places, there's still that natural inclination to just sit and do nothing. I can be boring that way, and I think I take after you, Pa.

I remember when Gino and I were kids, and you'ld take us to the beach during the summer or on weekends. We'd play war games with the BB guns, or play cards, and grill hotdogs (which you'ld forget to take out of it's vacuum wrap). But we never strayed far from our cottage, except for that time you got us bikes and wanted us to try them out.

I also remember you stories of whenever you'ld go on out-of-the-country trips. They'd always be for work, and you liked staying in your hotel. I remember the time you went to Tokyo and had the chance to explore the red light district. You almost skipped that part but you didn't want to embarrass your hosts. You ended up making small talk with the Filipino bar girls, which you enjoyed because you got to speak Tagalog.

I do a bit more of traveling-for-fun than you, and ironically, it's because you encouraged it. You liked sending us away and talked about not minding having to spend for your kids' travels. It was worth it you'ld say, and it is. A big part of who I am is because of the places I've been to, thanks to you. But there are times when I just want to revel in doing nothing. To have the luxury of free time, to just sit around and read, or talk with the people I have in my life. I really can be boring that way and I really take after you. I really don't mind at all.

from America

Just got back from Lake Tahoe, where my uncle married, by my count, for the fourth time. I'm happy for the guy, and I like the new wife, my new aunt. Even if I stepped on her gown's trail while taking photos, and heard a rip. My bad, but to be fair, it was a small rip, more heard than seen.

Tahoe during this time of the year was beautiful, but I was without Internet for this crucial weekend of the NBA draft and the deaths of MJ and Farah Fawcett. I'm back in San Francisco now, and the unread items on my reader is stressing me out.

Anyway, my trip is finally winding down. In two days I board a plane that will finally take me home. Home is Manila, Philippines, an incomparable place in every way possible. I want Manila humidity, smog and traffic. I seriously do. I also want the uneven comfort of my own bed.

As usual, I am overthinking and figuring out how I feel about this whole trip. The NYC leg was all about me. It was me doing what I wanted to do, hanging with who I wanted to see, staying at wherever I wanted to stay. NCY was, and will always be, great.

This whole West Coast leg was about family, however, and all the baggage that comes with it. The whole experience of spending extended amounts of time with family in close quarters is Kafkaesque in its absurdity, Dante Alighieric in its pain, and Apatowish in its heartfelt humor.

There are many stories from here. About how my relatives made it here and how they adjusted to the way of life. One family first landed in Michigan, and lasted in all that cold for about a year. They decided to go west to San Francisco and rejoiced when, after crossing the hills and plains, they finally saw the city. That city turned out to be Sacramento. It was such a frontier story, I forgot it happened in the late 80's.

Also my uncle (another one, not the guy married many times over) was so pissed about migrating to America that, within the first few months of living here (well, Michigan), he decided he wanted to go back home to the Philippines. That he planned to do it after dropping off my cousin at school, and only packing his books, makes me imagine the frustration that led to this very unsuccessful plan.

In this part of America crisscrossed by flyovers and highways, I spent many hours in a car listening to my aunt recount how she met my uncle (the frustrated man) after losing her first love, a guy who, ironically, settled somewhere here in the West Coast. Theirs is a story for the movies.

But in the midst of all that, family has taken root, marriages have grown, and love has been lost and found. New chapters have been written. Complete, full lives have been lived here.

I'm going back home to resume mine, but I'm taking the stories with me.

Lately, I've had nothing to say, other than post stuff about movies, music and photography. No new epiphanies or realizations. No poignant experiences or life defining acts. It's because Twitter has taken over my life.

Or maybe it's because things have been all right. Meaning, I've been very happy to live my life the past couple of weeks, and I really can't be bothered to write about it. But I will try.

I know it sounds pathetic to say this, but maybe Star Trek started it off by just being awesome.

Then work got going, checks started coming in, and, professionally, I'm satisfied. At least approaching the first half of this year. I'm also happy to be finally on a very promising book, after many false starts. All those books I mentioned here, I swear to you, I haven't been able to finish more than half of them. But this one now, Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, is dense and fascinating. I like the challenge of reading it, and I like it when staying on it pays off.

I've been catching some good music live too. I saw Sleepwalk Circus and Encounters With A Yeti just this past week alone.

Also the NBA Playoffs have been the most fun and exciting in recent years. I like it more than last year, even with Boston and Lakers were in the Finals. This year, and at this point it's the conference finals leading up to the Finals, it's full of exciting match ups and awesome games. Even as everyone assumed that it would be a Cleveland-LA showdown at the end, peaking teams like Orlando and Denver (Chauncey!) are giving them a serious run for their money. I just saw a well-made documentary about the opposite yet same demigods that are Kobe and LeBron, and their stories are truly inspiring. Or at least Nike tells me so.

But it really is a good series, and when people ask me who I'm rooting for, I say, without an ounce of bullshit, that I just enjoy watching these guys compete. Basketball, with the glory of winning and the obliteration by defeat, is a purifying experience. The drama is true. If I had to live my life, earning a (lucrative) living, just being one of those talking heads on ESPN, who cover game after game, I'd be very content. It doesn't get any better than that.

Also, I will be taking a three-week vacation in a couple of weeks. I don't deserve it. In fact the whole expense of it, compounded by the fact that I'd be missing out on work for such a long time, was making me sick. Then Star Trek came along and made me love life a little.

I'll be visiting New York again, after, wow, five years. And I think I will take immense pleasure revisiting old bookshops and favorite museums. I will check if my favorite deli is still on the corner of Park Ave and 17thE, get a sandwich and flavored water, and eat it at Union Square like I used to. I will go back to Central Park and finally find "IMAGINE" on the ground. This time around, I will be hanging with great friends, and it should be funner. Then I'm off to San Francisco to attend an uncle's wedding.

I just saw Bottle Shock, and while it's an okay movie, it made me want to go to Napa Valley again. But this time, I want to go off the wine tasting route and just head off to the real vineyards and take more pictures. Then back home to Manila for my brother's birthday.

The next six weeks of my life have been planned. And while that somewhat terrifies me, at the rate I'm going, I'll probably be all right.

quick plug

Usually March is a month of low cash flow for editorial photographers. Magazines come out with a single issue for the months of January and February, and the checks come out in Feb. No checks for March, and you got to live off your other gigs. But that's cool this year. Because making the covers of two magazines I enjoy shooting for is worth it. Please check out the March issues of Real Living and Travelife at magazines stands near you!

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