New Year’s Eve in Butuan was total fucking madness.
By 6 PM there were enough vuvuzelas, firecrackers and skyrockets going off to launch a full-scale ground assault on South Africa. Shock & Awe Pilipino style, Springboks!
Figuring that discretion was the better part of valour, I retreated to the hotel at 8 PM and bolted myself inside my room, like you would a pet dog. Now, lying back on the bed, I could safely watch the rolling global insanity on the teev, albeit from the dodgy end of town. I wonder if the hotel has a fire extinguisher? Sometime after the fireworks didn’t go off on the Eiffel Tower I drifted off to sleep.
Figuring that discretion was the better part of valour, I retreated to the hotel at 8 PM and bolted myself inside my room, like you would a pet dog. Now, lying back on the bed, I could safely watch the rolling global insanity on the teev, albeit from the dodgy end of town. I wonder if the hotel has a fire extinguisher? Sometime after the fireworks didn’t go off on the Eiffel Tower I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, New Year’s Day, I rolled out of the hotel in search of coffee. My Sweet Lord! The city was deserted. I cycled cautiously towards the centre of town, along street after street, nary a soul to be seen. It was seriously disconcerting; an Asian city with nobody in it. Where did they go? Attack of the Zombies? The End of Days?
The silence was liberating, but the experience of riding in an empty Asian urban space, surreal. I could look about and take things in; old wooden buildings, the slant of the sun across rusting roofs, and the changing colour of the road surface. I had time to read the barber shop signs! I felt like a child again, no longer negotiating the onslaught of everyday life. But was there a Babadook lurking? It's Asia, and things can creep up on you.
The silence was liberating, but the experience of riding in an empty Asian urban space, surreal. I could look about and take things in; old wooden buildings, the slant of the sun across rusting roofs, and the changing colour of the road surface. I had time to read the barber shop signs! I felt like a child again, no longer negotiating the onslaught of everyday life. But was there a Babadook lurking? It's Asia, and things can creep up on you.
By the town square, across the road from the cathedral, there were just two shops open; Dunkin’ (The Great Satan) Donuts and four doors down, McSatans. (Now, what is a cyclist to make of this curiosity? Are the Americans up to something, again?)
Could be, but wars and rumours of wars howling in the wind, and life goes on, read: coffee.
Choices, choices...
Nobody was in McSatans, so I locked the bike up and trotted into Dunkin’ (TGS) Donuts to join the other half-a-dozen people left on Gaia. I figured it was best to stick with the herd at a time like this.
The happy young folk behind the counter were still taking money, which I took as a good sign, so I ordered a coffee, and lashed out on a chocolate donut with nuts. No point skimping if this was to be the Last Day, or something else equally puzzling.
Glad they didn't burn the town down! Wishing you an adventurous and safe New Year Felix, love Kerry X X X
ReplyDeleteCheers, Kerry! Yes, 'Butuan Ablaze!' did cross my mind, so I did have my escape route out of the hotel and down towards the river planned out. Lying on the bed watching the teev does give you time to think such things out. Today, 2 Dec., I do note that the town is slowly coming back to life. No zombies; I checked. Tomorrow I head north towards Surigao. Hugs xx
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