An ostrich can run up to 60kms per hour. A two-toed bird, they are very fast runners. Also, they are silent animals: they make no sound, except for some squeaks when they are babies, and during mating season. They are not the brightest bulbs in town: their eyes are bigger than their brains. Our guide…
Read MoreMoving / Travel
In South Africa
After the turbulence… the goddam turbulence… we finally landed in South Africa! It’s pretty cold here this evening (temps go down to 12°C in the evenings, these days, according to the weather reports, but tonight it’s a cool 19°C) — a welcome change from the seemingly never-ending temps in the 30°s of Dohell. Since this…
Read MoreThe Penalty
When the plane landed in Detroit, the Americans started clapping, perhaps overjoyed at the sight of snow outside the windows. The French woman across the aisle nudged me, showing me the card we needed to fill for customs. “Do you think we need to declare cheese or saucisson here?” I remembered I had two packs…
Read MoreChicago
Chicago is frickin’ cold! So far we’ve been to the Bean, the Field Museum, and I’ve eaten the pizza. Also, I’ve finally met my first and only niece (she’s brand new!) and she’s a cutie. Currently listening to:BattlesMirrored
Read MoreHotel Hunting
In Japan, the first conversation we had was in French. We were in the train coming from Narita Airport, warily checking our guidebook to see which station we were supposed to get off, when a Japanese man in his late twenties approached us and asked us if we needed any help. Naturally he asked us…
Read MoreScenes from the Country
Julien is in the garden. He has a huge machine for cutting grass strapped across his chest, probably called A Grass Cutter (?) He is sporting gloves and protective goggles and is moving this ghastly machine in a rhythmic sideways motion. Grass is flying about. Beside him is father, who is brandishing a rake and…
Read MoreGetting There
By the time my plane rolled down Doha International Airport’s runway, I had been asked 19 times if I were Filipino. 19 times, just at the Bahrain and Qatar airports. 19 times I answered Yes, and the follow-up questions were: 1: “Have you come straight from Manila?”, 2: “Ah, what’s your job in Doha?”, and…
Read MoreNot Very Effective
Jesus, the apartment is a mess. This is because I am the world’s worst packer. Now that the cartons have been delivered, my method is to empty closets and cabinets and dump them on the living room floor… then watch a movie. The other method I have is to pull all the books off the…
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