When I was a kid, my mom enrolled me in an art class and she said that after one class, I told her, “Mama, I’m so happy.” I remember that class. We were taught to mix paint and detergent, then blow bubbles in the mix, and finally press paper on the paint-infused bubbles. I still have those bubbles preserved on the page as yellow and red forms, and I love it.
The train left Grand Central, and I was on my way back to my aunt’s house. Seated in front of me was a geeky guy with curly hair. I glanced at him. He said, “Sorry,” taking in his outstretched foot, mistakenly thinking that I was giving him a look of disapproval.
I said, “No, I just noticed that you were writing. I’m a writer too.”
Note: The information in this piece is a mix of research and personal experience. I’ve been to the shopping mall at the Petronas Towers, but I didn’t get to go to the top of the towers. This was a practice piece that I wrote to try my hand at travel writing.
A trip to Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is like hitting two birds with one stone—sightseeing and shopping. In 1998, it was the tallest structure in the world, but Taipei 101 surpassed it in 2004. In terms of twin towers though, it is the tallest one still. Petronas is short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad, which is the government-owned oil and gas company. A modern structure that rises above the city, it is a sight to behold.
Malaysians are very proud of these towers, but we Filipinos should also share in this feeling. Two Filipinos namely engineer Deejay Cerico with the consultancy of designer Dominic “Minick” Saibo were involved in the creation of this architectural masterpiece. They worked together with architect Cesar Pelli and another consultant J. C. Guinto. This team of experts carefully constructed this modern edifice. Laminated glass, which bounces off dangerous ultraviolet rays, covered the towers. Stainless steel wrapped around the towers for support, and this material allowed the buildings to glisten in the sun.
Note: All of the information in this piece was researched and not personally experienced. I haven’t really been to Chiang Mai, but I have been to Thailand. This was a practice piece that I wrote to try my hand at travel writing.
Going to Thailand’s ancient city of Chiang Mai, I visited the holy grounds of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. A colossal structure near the summit of Doi Suthep mountain, this temple towers over the city, easily standing out among the 700 Buddhist temples in the area. Drenched and lit with gold, I was sure that Midas would have envied this grand structure.
To get to the gold on the mountain top, you could climb the Naga staircase.
Serpentine railings that have green and gold scales and eight hissing snake heads slither along the 309 steps. Now that’s a lot of exercise! If you have achy-breaky bones however, there’s always the cable car. I had some doubts about my knees, but I couldn’t pass up on a challenge. Each step elevated me toward a beautiful view, so walking up the stairway was a pleasant experience.
When I was finally heaving and panting, there was small voice inside of me that mocked I told you so, but I still took the next step. At last I reached the top, and the prize was the wat—a breathtaking view that was rich in history, sanctity, and culture.
I was in Union Square Park when I saw this beggar who had this long, colorful, and trashy wig made out of scraps of tulle. He was also wearing a patterned top and a colorful skirt. I thought he was a street entertainer, and I was about to take his picture when he started yelling “Let’s go to Whole Foods and ransack it! If lots of people do it, they won’t take us in!” Err…real genius, Bozo, real genius.
Age of the Diary 
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