Banga

Balanan

Every household has that ubiquitous banga, a clay jar (by the see-though bamboo sink) that is used to store drinking water. In the mountains where Grandpa lives, there was no running water. Water was drawn from a well, located a few kilometers away from the cluster of houses. They store water in these jars to cool it. It has a very distinct taste, maybe a taste of moss here or green algae there, growing at the bottom. It gives the water such character, and it was a taste like no other.

The Bridge

Yeonchon, Korea

We built a bridge made of logs spanning a little creek close to a lake. After hammering the last nail, we wrote our names on the first log and took pictures. Suddenly Sohyong (we call not-so-shy-boy) cried. He was always with us and as much a part of the camp as anybody else. We realized that all except him signed the bridge. We all felt shame and guilt! The following day, Hyongnim made a special trip to the bridge. Sohyong signed his name on it. Finally, we felt the bridge was complete.

Caught In The Nose

Sacred Heart

As I pulled a stubborn weed, a loose wire snapped to hit my face. A barb hooked and clang to my nose! I remained still. The guys were kind enough to hold their laughter, while the professor eased the nasty barb out. When it was finally unhooked, they burst out laughing like a group of retards. I was brought to the clinic where a nun took care of the wound. I tried looking helpless, expecting sympathy from her. Instead she said, This is what you get from working against your will. Real work comes from the heart!

Tremors

Shinjuku, Shinjuku

Japan is jolted by several earthquakes everyday, though most are too faint to be felt. I was sitting on a sofa studying the agenda. The others were on their desks and PCs. Suddenly I felt nauseous. I looked around and saw things shaking, and wall decors swaying. My Japanese hosts remained immobile on their desks, but alert. I stayed calm. To my clearest recollection, I experienced just ONE earthquake at home. This was the second. After things have settled, I let out a sigh of relief and exclaimed, That was an earthquake! They said, Yes, then got back to work.

River Trek

Baybay

By ship overnight, we reached Baybay known for VESCA, a university that specializes in agricultural studies. Unbeknownst to outsiders, this is also a place of virgin rivers and majestic mountain peaks, lush forest, and invigorating waterfalls. It was summertime and the heat was intense. After breakfast, we started walking towards the forest. Once inside, the air turned pleasantly cold as sunrays were filtered by thick forest cover. Within minutes, we heard the unmistakable murmur of a river dotted with moss-covered rocks. Mineral water gushed from the river’s rock base amidst broad-leafed ferns and endemic flora.

Martial Arts

Panmunjum

I was in Panmunjum in the DMZ where I got acquainted with Tobias, a German who knew Taekwondo, Copeira and Kung Fu. He asked me to show any Asian Martial Art I know. He was disappointed I didn’t know any. Then we traveled southward to the Jiri mountains. There I met Jean, a Danish who knew Karate. I was ashamed being with Europeans showing Asian skills I should be equipped with. So when I got back, I took special training for Arnis-de-Abanico. In this branch of discipline, one of the Grand Masters was a six-footer from Luxemburg, a European. 

Yellow Brick Road

Tokyo

The chunky soles of my mountain shoes hit bricks on the wide Tokyo sidewalk. It clunked. I almost tripped. On closer look, I noticed these to be protruding yellow concrete lines. At first I thought, what a lousy design, until I saw Ray Charles walked on by. His walking stick conveniently slid through the grooves. It’s a blind man’s lane!

Blood Drip

Bohol

The blood compact area has life-size brass statues. It’s a historic site, where, 300 years ago, the tribal chieftain and the head of the Spanish conquistadores covenant to end atrocities by drawing blood from their arms. They let blood drip in a cup then took turns drinking the mixed blood concoction! That was the way of the past. Today it’s in the list of the One Thousand And One Ways To Die! Cool.

Segregate

Shinjuku, Shinjuku 

NICE office is located on the third floor of a modest building. It has 4 neat brown boxes for segregated trash. Before leaving we brought the 4 boxes to the basement where they were once more segregated into 6 parts:

1. plastics

2. paper

3. plastic bottle

4. glass bottle

5. non-recyclable

6. wet waste