30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 7

Home Thoughts
by Carl Sandburg

THE SEA rocks have a green moss.
The pine rocks have red berries.
I have memories of you.

Speak to me of how you miss me.
Tell me the hours go long and slow.

Speak to me of the drag on your heart,
The iron drag of the long days.

I know hours empty as a beggar’s tin cup on a rainy day, empty as a soldier’s sleeve with an arm lost.

Speak to me …

What are you thankful for today?

I am grateful for my two homes, the Philippines where I was born and bred and Germany, where I am happily living with Him Indoors.

The shore that call us home
Was the title of the poem
By Samuel Hazo in 1949
Makes me think about my life
Every time I go home and meet my
Family, friends and relatives again
After some time when I’m here
And they are there living differently
Yet parallel to each other, there’s this
Nostalgic feeling, of being home again
This land or these islands I miss so much
It doesn’t matter where I am now, and
I’m building a home with my family here
But over there where I used to call home
Full of childhood memories, of school,
Of college, of my first experience at work
First love, first kiss, first of everything
These experiences made me and taught me
They gave me a solid foundation of how
It is to be me, all the trials and errors
They gave me the confidence to try and
Explore different things and I have proved
That I can do it no matter where
So even when I’m happy here
I’d still be a girl with a fringe
I’d always go back to the shore
That calls me home, the Philippines

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

yacht

lavender

tortoises

home is happy
home is cosy
home is warm
home doesn’t regret
home doesn’t mind sharing
home grows with love

it doesn’t matter
where or what is home
home is with Him Indoors
and HRH the son
our three tortoises
our flowers in the grden
things we share
experience and memories
I love our home!

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: 30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 7. Also for: NaNoPoblano Day 7

Gates of Hell

Welcome to the gates of hell, my city where I spend 3 to 4 hours of traffic gridlock with the rest of thousands of commuters, in the heat of around 34 degrees. The few elevated train lines that ply major routes in Metro Manila become packed like sardines, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours. Manila, where the stench of Pasig River, the rubbish on the streets, the thickest smog and the slum areas tells us teeming poverty is thriving and people go their normal ways. Where I don’t feel safe, as pickpockets roam the city and corruption is widespread. Where my home could be broken and things stolen. Manila, where I keep coming back.

Manila, my home
Poverty, traffic like hell
But life goes on

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Haibun Monday # 23 – contemporary cityscape by Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Sept. 24/16 – “bus”

PHOTO PROMPT © Ron Pruitt

When we first got married, Him Indoors and I visited the Philippines. We flew to Bicol, one of the provinces in the north of the Philippines and on the way back, flights were cancelled. Instead of waiting for the next flight which could be the next day or the next week, things could be very flexible in the Philippines. Anyway, we decided to take the bus to Manila. Everyone seemed to have the same idea. The bus station was full of people, chickens, pigs, children, cargoes, you name it, they were there, chaos! We ended up being in a decrepit, no air-con bus. We had to stand the first couple of hours. Did I mention that the bus was so full, people were literally hugging each other, not forgetting all the chickens, pigs, baskets of fruits and vegetables, etc. There was a stop – wheel fell off. We waited 3 hours for the man to get nuts in another town. We stood by the side of the road in the middle of the night. People started getting out, so we were able to sit. Then we stopped the second time – puncture on one of the tyres. Another wait. After that, the driver raced another bus along the motorway with a horse and a cart in the slow lane. Never again, we promised. Such a bus experience!

For: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Sept. 24/16 by Linda Hill

K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge…Street Life

tuktuk

For: K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge…. Also for: Tuesday Photo Challenge – Human Impact

Manila by the Hotdogs

No place in the world like Manila – my hometown. I keep coming back to Manila, even though I left it many moons ago. It was the place where I was born, went to school and university. Where I had my first job, met and had my first love and of course, my family and friends are still here. The lyrics are with the song. Here are some more photos of Manila. Cheers everyone!

For: Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 9/11/16, #MySundayPhoto – Sunset Baby! , Conservatory of Flowers (Sundays In My City)

Cityscape

Only in big cities, we can…
…display or park our Lamborghini in the middle of the town square and people look, take photos and admire it. Now, where did I park my car?

…have flashing lights in the Eiffel Tower. Cool place to be in at night!

…have a big stucture in the middle of a mall – they call it art, you know?

… play some instruments or be a living statue or any sort of busking…not a bad way to earn a living, eh?

… have big cranes for any big construction, a new building, a new mall, a new hotel, anything for a mega city…

… have a big stadium for football, where thousands or million of people watch the game, go, Barca, go!

…see women working in a building site with their high visibility saris, look at them, so colourful!

… spend hours and hours being stuck in a traffic, the noise, chaos, pollution, accidents, tricycles, motorbikes, jeepneys, vans, cars, buses, etc.

For: Cityscape

Storm – Daily Prompt

there’s nothing like it
typhoon in the Philippines
classes suspended

the world seems ending
strong winds, thunder and lightning
watching from inside

For: Storm

Hundred Islands – Daily Prompt

We had a trip to Hundred Islands and its home, Alaminos City when I was in the Philippines. The trip itself was a great diversion from the hustle and bustle of the busy, urban life. The rice paddies, azure sea and the rustic and peaceful lifestyle were refreshing as we made our way to Alaminos City. And upon arrival, we savoured the city’s unique and dynamic spirit, friendly atmosphere and especially, the beauty and adventure that lies in the hundred wonders that is Hundred Islands. The islands were believed to be about two million years old. They were actually ancient corals that extend well inland, in an area previously comprising the seabed of an ancient sea. The lowering of the sea level have exposed them to the surface. The peculiar “mushroom-like” shapes of some of the islands were caused by the eroding actions of the ocean waves.

For: Island , horses and sea… , SEASONS – SETTLING IN JULY (10-13), #MySundayPhoto – Rosey /July 10, 2016, Green String Farm ( Sundays In My City)

shuuchuugouu (しゅうちゅうごうう)

Rain has always been a part of us Filipinos. We only have two seasons – wet (June to November) and dry (December to May) seasons, depending on the amount of rainfall. This is also dependent on location, as some areas experience rain all throughout the year. I remembered our typhoon season, when it rained for days on end. From July to October, we have “bagyo” or tropical cyclones in the islands. We usually stay indoors, keep ourselves dry and listen to the sounds of the wind and the pouring rain. Some places would be flooded. Some days, classes and offices are suspended.

Listen to the rain
Playing bowling in heaven
When typhoon strikes

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Haibun Monday: 50 Shades of Rain by hayesspencer

Don’t Underestimate Lapu-Lapu

Lapu-Lapu was given a knife by the elder chieftain of the tribe. The knife was made from carved carabao and stag horn and said to have some supernatural powers. “Go, my son and defend our village from the Spanish conquistadors. We had our own beliefs from centuries ago, so we didn’t really need to be converted to Christianity.” And so Lapu-Lapu with his warriors waited for a battle to commence, ready to defend their independence, ready to die for it.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet had entered the Philippines and sailed to the island of Mactan with a small force. Magellan was a converting Catholic, and because of this he lost sight of his main goal, which was to find the Spice Islands. As an intensely religious man, he began to believe that his journey was ordained by God.

Lapu-Lapu had rejected the Spanish conversion and Magellan decided to use force. Due to his profound convictions and the easiness of converting other chieftains in the Philippines, Magellan had no hesitations about entering battle with the rebellious Lapu-Lapu and his warriors. He severely underestimated the capabilities of his opponents.

Magellan’s flotilla were allegedly greeted on the shores with near 1,500 fighters. The combatants recognised Magellan as the captain. Lapu-Lapu descended on him with the knife given to him by the elder chieftain and killed Magellan. The other warriors fought with their bamboo spears and cutlasses in the rocky shores of the island. The rest of the Spanish retreated.

For: Underestimate