Trivandrum

Decembed 12, 2001

I enjoyed my Trivandrum flt I'd say. Enjoy in a sense I was able to do something interesting alone.

I stayed in the hotel room most of the time. Ganda kasi english channels (something I don't have at base). There's of course HBO, starmovies, discovery, nat'l geog, animal channel, cartoon net, etc. Aah, cable. It's 1 thing I need at home and I'll be content w/ life. When I had late lunch, that's when I got to talk to the American Capt. I told u about him.

I didn't like him when I 1st met him. George, thePhil-Am 1st ofcr who looked like Pat Morita, gave me a warning before about this Capt. He wanted a female cockpit attendant. True enough he appointed me when he saw me. He acted arrogant and I didn't talk much that flt. On our 1st class training, we were taught not to get too close to the f/d crew bec u can never tell their moods. That helped me. He can speak tagalog so I thought maybe he had a Pinay gf in thepast. Yung mga joke niya kasi is bf,love related so id idn't talk much. But as the flt went on I he got OK.Or is it my tolerance? He said he's married to a Filipina fr Cotobato. So I imagined her to be like Michelle and Oona. You know what and how I found outlater. He also told me his wife is on the way w/ a baby girl. He looked happy and proud. Still I have mydoubts for an arrogant looking American.

So over late lunch, he saw me at the hotel cafe and joined me. He just emailed his wife. So I asked himabout being married to a Pinay. He seemed happy about it. They met in Bahrain. She used to work in this restaurant and he used to fly for a Shiekh. He told meabout his wife's family like hitting the lottery, his wife's sister slaved by Kuwaitis (that they'll takecare after his wife gives birth), their pet monkey in disposables, their Pinay Yaya, her wife's cooking and how he hated some Pinoy who befriends his wife just toget to him. "My wife came from a poor family. They're 10 brods ans siss", "she used to tend cows when she was young"' "Oh God I can't believe I'm married to a cow herder!" 36 hrs after, his wife gave birth.

The next day I know I have to go out. Being my 1st time in TRV, I have to explore. They said books are cheap so I thought of going the bookshop 1st. I was told I can take the auto. Auto is a triwheeler. A tricycle except the passengers seats behind d driver. It will cost me 10-15 rupees. It's 45 Rps to $1. When I got out of the hotel about to flag an auto, this hotel taxi driver approached me offering 50 rps. I thought OK na. Mas safe bec u can't really trust all auto drivers, specially for a 1st timer like me. 50rps is not bad for a taxi. At least he's charging fair price. The driver's nice. His name is Joy. He took me to this bookshop in a busy district. I thought of having his service the whole day so I asked him to wait while I buy books. They got very nice selection of books. Actually, their price is same w/ Phil. I got this Rushdie (who else?) thick paperback for 300 rps.cguro nasa 330 Php din yun. And another short storiesby Rushdie also.

I only got 2 books and a small dictionary. Then when I got out of the shop, I told Joy to take me to an Indian rest. Well, being in India, might as well have Indian food. Thanks to Tekla who made me like it when we had dinner at this Indian rest in Colombo. Ok, ok, you might think it's kadiri eating Indian food. Theway I learned to like Thai food, it took time. You can't stick to 1 cuisine all your life. Sometimes you've got to open yourself to what other countriesgot to offer. So told Joy to take me to a nice and inexpensive Indian Restaurant. Funny how I should talkto him. I have to simplify my english to the most basic. And make it 'barok' bec when he answers me, it doesn't seem to relate to my question. As what 1Indian steward told me on our flt back, it has to be:"I eat. You eat. OK?" When we got to this family restaurant, I asked him to have lunch w/ me. Poor guy,he was totally surprised. It's no fun eating alone.Besides, I need him to teach me proper way of eating chappati. And bec he's nice and he looks like hereally needs to be fed :). The menu is a mix of Chinese and Indian selection. Again, as the Indian steward told me, chinese foods are common in that part bec they learned it from the Nepalese. Still they cookit w/ Indian touch. Meaning spicy. So I had chix butter whatever w/ chappati, and Joy fish w/ rice.It's both very nice. Though not something you'd wantto have always or have crave for.

So Joy and I had a very good chat. i didn't feelstrange bec the place is not so peopled and nobody'sgiving an eye. Joy told me about his job, having his 1st customer in 2 days, his family (parents andsisters. he's single) his sick father, the dowry thing, etc. It's good to hear a person's story fromanother part of the world. Dowry? funny. But there'snothing they can do. That's life. He's surprised to hear Fils have no such problems and we are free to choose and live and marry whoever we like. He's also relieved to have a break from all those hotel foreign guests who'd ask him for a woman.

After lunch he showed me a nearby catholic church. Iasked him bec I might have a sunday lay-over someday.Then I told him to bring me to this beach liked by thecrew. 2 pala beach don. 1 maganda na pang tourist.yung 1 corny. He took me to the corny one. There's this river connecting to the sea. But since it's low tide so there's a sand partition. On the river, u can rent a motor boat or something like a jet ski. Then by the beach is a small park for kids w/ rides, play sand and benches on bermuda. There are buko and softdrink vendors.

Bought a buko (uhaw na eh). I looked around and cant find anything extraordinary so I told Joy we can goback to the hotel. Tanong niya "why, don't you like it?" The look on his face parang gandang ganda na siyasa lugar na yon. Nahiya naman ako kasi proud niyang sinabi sa akin yung lugar na yon. Eh nandun na rin lang and there's nothing for me to do back in the hotel, kaya binabawan ko na sarili ko. I rode a pony nalang malibang lang. 10 rps lang daw. When I got on,this boy asked for 100, I said no. We got down to 50for a long ride. The sand is red. No, I was wearingshades so I guess it's in the shade of brown. Imaginea flower pot, powder that and let it dry in the hotsun. Ganon kulay niya. Girls would understand a Marrakesh lipastick shade. Ganun yun. I don't ride horses well. Nor ponies. But I'm trying to learn. Having the liking for it is a good start. The 2 boys guides are nice. One's name is Manu'. He's about 11. He says he goes to school and lives in the hut he pointed by the beachand coco groves. The other one's Mutu'. Like Manu' he's wearing long sleeved polo tucked in a black slack. You know what I mean. It's the most common urban outfit, much like t-shirt and jeans for a Pinoy.They make the pony gallop fast at times. Bhoy Ishouldn't hv let them. It's tough on my breasts. Buti nalang I'm wearing my sprts bra. Pero kahit na. it's hard to find a posture that can hide the bounce (ugh).

Ok that's my 50 rps ride. After that I took a littlestroll on the kiddie park. There are lots of kids, 5yrs I guess, in uniforms. Their having a field trip.The ladies in green uniform saris are teachers. I wenton top of the hill (just a heap of bermuda coveredsand to give the park good grounds) to get a betterlook of the whole area. Then all the kids started moving to follow their teachers. I was on their way and they all passed through me. Little black skinned,eye-lined, jeweled giggling children. As they walked through, I smiled at each saying Hi. Looking at a foreigner, they giggled more as they moved on. I guess it's the closest thing I can get to being passed by Angels. Cherubims. So that's my day. I had Joy take me back to the hotel.I paid him 250 rps. I plan see the other beach nexttime w/ all my stuffs, camera, bathing suit and all.Then I checked my email at a net shop accross the hotel. Same speed as that of the hotel, only 40%cheaper.

The flt back to Kwi is OK. In flt when I saw thecruise-map on the monitor, that's the time I learned where Trivandrum is. It's on the south most point of India pala. I got enough sleep b4 d flt. At the briefing center in Kuwait, there was Jokla fresh fr NY. Sheoperated the direct flt. We didn't make do of the bet yet. She blushes on the mention of her new bf she met over the net. A pinoy-am fr Calif.