TRAVEL BOO-BOOs and TRAVEL-MUST-DO

ATTENTION: Newbies and oldies in the travel arena...here are some helpful survival tips when at the airport. Take note of the following:

1. Never accept a package from any one, most especially from a stranger at the airport!

• Some of these creatures have the gift of tongue to sweet talk you to do them a favor like for instance, they'd ask if you could take their package or small carry-on bag because their baggage allowance have already been utilized. Remember, that is not your problem! They do this strategy to someone traveling alone or traveling light. Beware! Most of them are drug traffickers or just your typical by stander who are free loaders.

2. Never leave your luggage unattended.

• Jerks could always put something inside it from the external side pocket so beware! I had two unfortunate experiences related to people asking me to help them with their excess baggage.

Scene 1: SINGAPORE. March 1989.

I attended the international conference on art and design- sponsored by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) office in Singapore. I was at the Changi airport (I was flying back home to Manila) when a Filipina in her late 40s, wearing a shabby pair of jeans and wrinkled shirt, came upfront to me and asked if I could take her package? And to put it in my name? Why? Because she said she had a lot of luggage with her and didn't want to pay any more charges for excess baggage. My left eyebrow started to curl into an arch (TRANSLATION: You went to the wrong person, woman). I was thinking quietly while looking at her with my almond eyes... in my mind I know it isn't my problem. In my heart I knew something is absolutely wrong! Why on earth would she ask help from me? She does not know me and we are strangers to each other! After a while I decided I was not going to help her. This could be one modus operandi of someone working for a syndicate. Who knows? My mind was reeling fast... I could be in big trouble later. Seconds later, I said my firm "NO." I was not going to do what she suggested and I was not going to help her out at all. Before I knew it she turned her back to me and made a gibberish sound that was quite- annoying to me. Shortly, three other women came to rescue her (like I was bullying her *hello*). They are now four women in front of me who are trying to pressure me to give in. No way! I tell you, they look like gringos in Mexico; found out later on they were Filipina domestic helpers working in Singapore. Okay, that's who they are. But hey, I was not discriminating them or anything like that. Just wondering why are they mean to me? I thought their actions were poor and inappropriate and lacked finesse. Taken in consideration our age difference, I was the younger party here; they were decades older than I am. So I expected a little more kindness if they had any and to act civil at least. Realizing I got myself into trouble for rejecting her I felt pressured to get off this mess quite quickly. Yet before all could be sorted out easily, I found myself speaking in crescendo and was telling her over and over again that hell no-I had nothing to do with her problem and that she should leave me alone! Boom...I exploded!

Next scene: she was quiet. Perhaps thinking of a tactic? Later, dead silence came through between us. Suddenly, I was hearing words of curse in Filipino, in Tagalog, in particular! OMG! Here comes trouble!!! I was starting to be so pissed. They were ganging on me. I kept quiet for a sec; decided no matter what, I wasn't offering any help. I wasn't a wimp. I'd kill for principles and would do it an eye for an eye! Finally she and her friends gave up and left me alone but not without making noises. But thank God they were gone!

Next scenario: I was entering the entrance door of the aircraft. I noticed some 45 Filipina domestic helpers were looking into my direction like they were ready to smack me. I realized the woman whom I just had an encounter with had friends and "connection." Wow! They were many! So there I was on my own- at the lion's den, watching what would happen next to me. But nothing did happen in reality. They just gave me the angry look approach while a few others made some derogatory remarks to provoke me. I thought I wasn't going down to their level. So pedestrian for goodness sake I had to be the saner one here! And-it wasn't a fair deal at all because I was alone and they were many. Some people are only brave because they are greater in volume. I'd admire a person who could confront me with issues affecting us yet he/she could come out with a solution acceptable to both parties without using a strategy that is so poor and very one sided. Anyhow, I felt relieved I was still alive (laughs)!

On board Singapore Airlines, the women were rowdy and rude. I decided not to mind them at all. My thought was they'd get tired with whatever they were doing to upset me. And if ever they do something nasty to me, I could always call for help and the crew is always reliable on board; should the worse of things happen- they could call the security people known as "airport police" when we touch down in Manila. And they could pick up these barbaric women on board with me. In this regard, I felt better and reassured. Seated at last, finally it was quiet...grrrrrrr.....grrrrrrrrrrr! They seemed to have gotten tired being mean. Meanwhile, I enjoyed my flight; drowned myself with Bailey's cream on the rocks and had some to-die-for hors-d'oeuvre while reading the in-flight magazine and watching a movie on my screen. When the plane touched down, I felt resurrected I'd be out of these demons on board with me.

I came back home a year older from that experience despite the fact that I was only away for about 5 days. It was my first overseas trip. Somebody at the conference was smitten by me; proposed to me like it was a fairy tale movie. I didn't accept it. I wasn't crazy like him! Gosh, wackos are all over!

Traveling is a great teacher for me and it had made me strong, especially when I am alone on a journey somewhere.

Scene 2: PENANG, MALAYSIA. April 1996.

I was coming home to Bangkok in 1996, after my spring break in April in Malaysia. I was at Penang's international airport. I was enjoying my moment after checking in my luggage when suddenly I was approached by two big bodied Caucasian women in their late 50's; clad in men's lose white tank tap and old denim bermuda shorts. Both wore their shades (dark sunglasses) that their faces were vague for me to see.

"Hey, you! (pointing @ me), can you carry these packages for us? You have nothing with you except for your handbag!"

Wow, I was surprised with their straightforwardness in the manner they addressed me- "Hey, you!"

Geez, of all things I hate most (my pet peeve) are ruthless people like these two. Imagine being cornered by them. I felt a sudden pang of annoyance in my chest! These two are are a piece of work. I was sooo pissed but kept my cool-though I was starting to feel very angry, still-I forced myself to remain calm. I cannot believe I was having a repeat performance of my Singapore airport travail!

These two ugly barracudas are booting me out of my rights for some peace and quiet time at the airport. Knowing how sick and tired I am of people like them I was ready for a draw...and ready to kill (sigh). They are cheap. Free riders. Scheming criminals! So I blurted out at the top of my lungs:

"YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT GOING TO HELP YOU OUT AND I WON'T TAKE YOUR PACKAGE! WHAT CHEAP TRAVELERS YOU TWO ARE, BANKING ON OTHERS LIKE ME FOR FREE CHECK-IN OF YOUR EXCESS BAGGAGE!!! I DON'T KNOW YOU! YOU COULD BE DRUG DEALERS FOR ALL I CARE! AND IF YOU ARE, THIS IS MALAYSIA! YOU TWO WILL HAVE THE- DEATH- PENALTY FOR YOUR CRIME SO YOU TWO- LEAVE- ME- ALONE!$#^&*!%$@!!!"

My teeth were gritting! I was in fury! And I was loud!!! I commanded an immediate attention that Malaysian airport officials heard me at once; ran to my rescue; picked up the two gruesome looking creatures and brought them up for questioning at their security office nearby. Oh I was glad I was given help! OMG, that was quick! OMG the people are looking at me! What can I do? What can I do? I wanted to hide beneath the pavement of the airport! I was totally grossed. Minutes later, I got back my composure. I was okay. I walked with dignity. I wasn't at fault. I was on the right track!

As for the two OZ bitches, are they drug traffickers? I don't know. Maybe yes and maybe no or they could have just been those cheap backpack travelers traveling in East Asia. But all I knew was~ I was responding to that little voice inside me that said something was wrong. My intuition told me to protect myself because something bad was about to happen...so I screamed and it worked! Haha!

Meanwhile...Upon landing at Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, I felt relieved. The next day, I reported back to school. Expat colleagues and friends of mine asked,

"So how was your Penang trip? Gosh, you look smashing with your tan and that flower in your hair and starlight in your eyes! Must have been a great spring holiday for you in Penang!"

"A-hum." I replied.

One nosy male teacher from Central America quipped, "I bet you attracted some guys out there!"

"Yeah..." I answered with a quick laugh. "Actually, I attracted two barracudas."

They were not sure what was that all about but, I need not elaborate more, as it was obvious I needed my space. The bell would ring anytime soon. It was just great to be back home in my old familiar surroundings in Bangkok where everything seems real and safe for me. So after our short hi's and hello's, I headed back to my art room; prepared the materials needed for the large scale head sculptures my middle school kids were working on with me at that time. They were getting ready to exhibit their scultpures of Picasso's head, Da Vinci's plus Frieda Kahlo's to name a few. That was 1996 in April and the annual spring art exhibit was coming to its advent once more. I was the school's visual arts department chair (from elementary to upper school level). I was getting ready to deal with a lot of work pressure that entails the prep for a large school-wide art exhibit that involved students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, support staff and parents as well. It was a huge affair for an international school with 2,500 student enrollees coming from 45 nationalities. My trip to Penang was supposedly a breather for me until that airport scene came through, hahaha!

In retrospect, I learned another lesson in Penang on transit to Thailand and that is- to be vigilant and assertive at all times. Gee, life is just so different when you are a woman, single and traveling alone. You are an easy target of all kinds of predator for reasons they only know. Looking back, my toughness as a woman is the product of my own work and living environment in a multi-cultural setting. The countless trips I made on holidays, international conferences and overseas postings have helped me immensely to be strong and flexible as a person. From Asia to Africa, Europe to America, I met people from all ages, colors, shapes and creed~yet I remain to be me~ simple and with a fair sense of nationalism (NOTE: I always brought with me Philippine flag (the real one, the big one) and it traveled with me in different places. I take pride of my cultural heritage)!

Today, my life revolves around domesticity, travels with my spouse and those that connects our family from east to west. I am a stay-at-home wife by choice and had my share of accolades during my time as a career woman (up until 2 1/2 years ago). I am okay where I am now and have found my plateau.

My sense about life is this: having a career is something but being married is another thing. Both entails hardwork, perseverance and a lot of nurturing~ like water is to life that gives life unto life.