I am back in the Philippines

Here's a blow by blow account of my return to the pearl of orient:

September 30, 2006. I spent most of my day working on my laundry. I am not able to finish it because Vicky arrived and snatched me to attend AFAEAT Toastmasters Club meeting at The Palace. I am not excited about this because I was forced to serve as Toastmaster of the Evening (TME). but I know I will have the last laugh.

We broke our fast at KFC. Where else? KFC should pay me for simply being loyal! Vicky has to leave earlier and left Waleed, Dha and myself at KFC. Big mistake. She gave me the upper hand. ;) Wicked. Wicked. We arrived at The Palace many minutes late. I was replaced by CTM Danny Perez as TME. Who laughs now? ;)

After the meeting, we gravitated back to KFC (yes, believe it or not!) This time, Jawad, Abdul Azziz and Pilita have reinforced us.

It was also the moment to bid goodbye to Jawad so insists I am returning so he never said goodbye. Abdulazziz has to meet some friends. Vicky then drove Dha home.

So it was four of us - Waleed, Pilita, Vicky and myself at the house rushing to pack my things. I love to do it this way. But I hate it because I would always end up packing more than I need!

My flight was at 6:15 AM and it was barely 1AM so we killed time at Vicky's.

At 4:30 AM, we were at the airport. I immediately went to the Qatar Airways counter to check my luggage in. Ali Shahbaz and S. Abbas arrived and joined my three well-wishers. It was absurd to see all them separated from me by the hot electronic billboard as I was not allowed to go out of the security cordon anymore. We had quick goodbyes and a lot of teasing. Then, I was alone at the waiting lounge.

I dropped by the duty free shop and bought Aigner Black for myself and the new Cinema for Jenn.

As the airplane flew out of Bahrain, I looked for the last time beyond the window and saw Bahrain in its resplendent glory as the sun rose. It was just like I saw it on Google Earth. Bahrain is beautiful. Bahrain is lovely. Up in the clouds, Bahrain bid me farewell.

Less than forty winks later, I was above Qatar. Ramadan fasting is not observed at Doha International Airport. In fact, I saw two thobe-wearing teenagers greedily drinking their fruit juices. The waiting at Doha was long and painful as it allowed me to ponder on the immeasurable wealth Bahrain has given me. I tried to enjoy the new Doha airport. I managed to buy a book, Atlantic. I resisted buying Doha Asian Games stuff.

My flight to Manila has a glitch. The Airbus did not have individual entertainment screens. I hate old planes. They did not give passengers choice. yet, I endured watching all the movies. I never slept nor napped throughout the eight-hour trip.

We landed in Manila at 11:15 PM same day. And as I have expected, the carousel area is almost clear of passengers when my luggage went out. Poor people waiting for me outside! Poor me too because the airport is running on generators because of the typhoon called "Milenyo". I was like Pagsanjan Falls when I finally saw my brother and mother.

God loves me very much because electricity was restored at the house when we arrived home at 1:23 AM. I immediately went to my room setting aside everything else. All I wanted was to sleep for when the sun rise and I rise too, I will do so in my homeland, no more in the land where I felt home too...