Piyek 2: Isuna Met! (November 7, 2010)

Na-irwamakon nga agbibyahe. Manipud idi nakapuutak, pasaray mapan kami agpasyar idi idjay Villa Garcia. Sabali nga ili ti nakaiyanakak ken dimmakelak. Napalalo ti rag-ragsak ko nu adda kam ijay ta adu ti makaay-ayam ko, saan nga kasla idjay ili mi, manmano ti padak nga ubbing. Apagsangpet mi pay laeng mangrugin ti kin-namatan. Saan kami mabannog nga agtataray ngem no dumanon tay oras ti pang-ngaldaw umay da kamin tun sapulen daydi inang mi nga baket. Paturugen dakam tun malpas kam nga mangan, “Tapno alisto nga dumakkel!” kunana. Bantayan da kami ah daydi inang mi, “Agingga nga saan a makaturog, saan nga mabalin ti rumwar!” Intun malem nga makariing kamin, rugyan min tu manen ti agay-ayam uray no saan kampay nga nakamur-muray.

Agpapukis pay gayam ti maysa nga ranta mi nu mapan kam ijay Villa Garcia, dijay maysa nga ankel mi ti para pukis mi. Kayat ko idi ti pukis na ni ankel ta karusen na nga pirmi ti buok mi, mangibati la bassit idjay tuktok, highcut! Isu na laeng ta medyo nasani-it idjay banda na nga makarusan aglalu nu nangudel tay labahas na.

Idjay ili mi, as-asideg ti riknak kadagidjay duwa nga apong ko nga babaket. “Mama” ti tawag ko kadakuwada. Manipud kina-ubing ko isu dan ti kaka-iddak iti rabii. Nai-ruwamakon idjay angot da saanak nga makaturog no saan ko nga kaidda ti maysa kaniada. Isu nga nagbati ak idjay ili da mamang ko uray kayat dak nga ikuyog idi immakar da idiay Sta. Cruz. Idjay dan nga nag-naed.

Nu domingo idi kanayon dak nga itugot idiay ili. Kalpasan ti misa agdiretso kam idjay tiendaan, maipagatang ko manen tay kayat ko nga makan wenno abal-balay ken makaluganak manen ti karitela! (ta manmano pay ti traysikel idi). Agtarayak tun nga mapan lumugan ijay sango abay ti kutsero, uray no agunget da ipapilit ko latta, kayatko idjay tapno makitak amin nga malabasan mi.

Idjayak kanu Pattuko nga agiskwelan. Sakbay ti panagse-serrek, immay nak sinundo ni tatang ko. marigatanak idi damdamo, awan am-ammuk ngem di bumaybayag gagay-yem ko amin idan. Idiay ko nga nakita datay first crush nga kunada. Manmanu nga makitak isuna idiay nga agay-ayam. Makitak laeng isuna no lumabasak iti asideg ti balay da ken maranaak latta idiay ruwar nga agbum-bumba idjay gripo da. Manipud idin ket tunggal lumabasak idiay batug da tumalyawak latta idiay ayan ti gripo ta bareng nu adda isu na idjay.

Dili. Byahe manen ta idjayak kanu nga agbasa ti hayskul. Di damdamu makapanerbyos aglalu nu mapan ka idiay sango “to introduce yourself”. Kaadwan na nga ka-eskwelak dagidiay met la kaklasek idjay Caparia-an. Nu malpas ti eskwela ti malem, awanen ti ay-ayam ken tinnarayan.

Maysa nga malem agtudtudo, idi magmagnaak nga agawid nakitak isuna idjay siruk ti balay didjay kaaruba da nga agkam-kamat ti piyek. Tilewen na kuma ngata ngem haan na matiliw. Nagtakderak idjay ken buy-buyaek isuna agingga nga nadlawnak. Dinamagko, “mano ti piyek na?” Duwa kano. Ken tinulungak isuna nga nangtiliw. Idi naiyawat ko jay maikadwa nga piyek, pimmanawakun. Mabainak sa idi.

Napanak idjay Manila malpas ti hayskul. Trabaho ti bigat, eskwela ti rabii. Nakitak manun isuna idjay Recto Ave. “Uy! Sika gayam!” nakunak laeng idi. Isun ti naudi nga panagkita mi.

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Dubai Burj Khalifa

Dubai Burj Khalifa

It’s just a hundred Dirhams, pay it and you’ll see Dubai at the top.

Entrance is at the splendid Dubai mall. There is a long queue even if you get a reservation early. Wait in line also in the lifts (lots of tourist in Dubai these days!).

There are only 2 elevators but they open every 5minutes so no big deal waiting besides you’ll get entertained by the interior decorations all over the building corridors and passages. The inside of the elevator looks like a disco house, so if you have not gone for disco for some time be happy to ride up while the tiny dancing lights ran across the walls up and down like in casinos. Inside the lifts, you’ll feel the pressure in your ears while the platform slowly rises or should I say “shoot-up” till the viewing floor of the building. The hotel staffs and the awesome view both welcome you at the time the elevator doors open. Don’t worry coz your feet will automatically carry you towards the windows while your eyes are glued to the shimmering view below. Better to go in the evening. 

The buildings and roads looks like golds splattered in the ground. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Near the open walls, the wind is so strong it tries to drive your hair forming a new hairstyle. If you prefer the quiet, you can choose to remain inside the closed glass walls and enjoy the view all the same.  You just stand there among all the tourist people and share your ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ together.  Dubai is full of lights in the evening, the city is not sleeping like most of us are assuming, it is pulsing with life, you can observe that from the top of burj khalifa!

The exit corridors have sophisticated designs. They also have a showcase that tells the history of how they built the tower together with pictures of people that took part in the construction stage (more like ambassadors, hehehe!)

There are videos and pictures and scale models of the tower. The interior design is black and white and silver and granites and glasses and more silver claddings. Everything smells so expensive, really.

It’s a dream come true for Sheikh Maktoum, the pattern is there…you dream it…. then you plan it…. you act on it…. then you have it!

Mabruk, Burj Khalifa!!!

How to shoot the BULLS EYE!

You wanna know how to shoot the bulls eye of the firing ring? Very simple, man just imagine you’re firing at someone you extremely disliked ;) Of course the officer instructed that the correct gun position is to maintain the tree dots (above the hole) leveled and centered at the black circle of the target so you can shoot the bulls-eye. Sounds easy enough yes? But mind you –it’s little bit hard to do especially for first timers.

Also, one thing very important, remember to wear a closed neck t-shirt too, saves you from the flying HOT cartridges from diving inside your shirt. Didn’t know that so I’ve got burned skin souvenir from the incident…

The Abu Dhabi Officer’s club proudly housed the Caracal Shooting Club- the first commercial shooting club in Abu Dhabi. This place is also open on weekends although it looked very silent. It offers a great sport and adventure in one. This is a copy of their short introduction…

“…the creation of the shooting club has considerable significance as it is intended to revive the art of shooting and marksmanship; sports that have always been traditionally linked to the Islamic Culture….the club also provides complimentary safety awareness to first time shooters…”

True. After registration, they orient you hands-on of the safety procedures and correct way of handling a gun. Only one person is assigned to each officer for instructions. My officer is a tall Arab who is very supportive and patient – thank goodness. He’s a tall guy with well-built physique wearing the club’s cool uniform, black sweat shirt and pants with caracal’s logo although he is more nervous than me while he is teaching the basics.

So, to get ready for action, you have to put on the earplugs, and eye goggles-that’s protection from the noise and gun powders.

If you don’t know yet how to load a gun, he’ll load it for you. He then orders to shoot at the target- BANG 5x5!!!

Woah just like that!?! 30minutes and 25 bullets quickly over?!

Safety tip: when you finish shooting, you need to gently release the gun and lay it down on the table coz your hands will still be shaking (believe me!). Gosh! the feel of the 0.22 in your fingers is awesome and the slight sudden retraction as the bullet is fired, and the sound of each shot! Shooting is exciting, man! Firing a gun is like releasing your stress too! Very effective, friendsss!

Au revoir!