This Departure Lounge... A Destination Fulfilled: Part 6!

Travel truly sets me free, my lover affair with those new destinations had me love sick for more! A Philippine return? You bet it, mga bakla! Macau had me mesmerised my those bright lights and Portuguese features! Taiwan's freedom city set me free, Taipei was good for my soul! Miss Shanghai took me back to the very beginning of my China journey, that was serious nostalgia! 

I had done a deal with my company, I gained a long weekend in August and I would use it to return to China's Macau S.A.R! My initial visit had been rapid without the knowledge nor appreciation I have post-COVID. I jetted in from Ningbo with Air Macau on a direct service, I hit the ground running even though the rain caused havoc! 'Praça de Ponte e Horta' took me back to Portugal with my European summer trip not long over, I knew those colonial reminders would keep me going. I headed out into 'Little Manila' but I would encounter that 'Pinoy Love' several times during that long weekend visit. After a Cantonese breakfast, I headed down to 'Coloane Village' to soak in something more authentic than the tourist trap. Clocking 'Chapel of St. Francis Xavier' brought the love! Mainland looked a little garish, whilst Macau stayed looking authentic! I married the night, causing havoc I gossiped about 'Drag Race Philippines' at the top of 'SKY 21'. Before, I saw a rather moody and mysterious view of Macau. That G app was alive! 

Macau left me feeling like the devil wanted to take my soul, I made the best of the day and supped on a Sagres! Back in 'Barra Square', I swerved 'A-Ma Temple' for the crazy paving Portuguese style square because I seriously missed opportunities first time round. Munching on some Portuguese cakes reminded me of my Lisbon centred holiday. I needed Jesus! Macau's 'Quartel dos Mouros/Moorish Barracks' impressed me from the otuside, the current use had me moved on swiftly without any buts! 'Igreja de São Lourenço/St. Laurence's Church' saw me crawl up those steps, the humidity of the day had the hangover paralysing me. I needed to say a prayer in that Portuguese church. 'Largo do Senado/Senado Square' helped me source 'Maltesters' for real! Cosplaying 'Las Vegas', I headed over to 'Taipa' to see 'The Londoner' for a life-saving pint of cider! I was about to experience the best Filipino hospitality of all my living life, it was getting so so scandalous! I was shown the world, I felt like Jasmine on that magic carpet, so hypnotised! 

A beacon of hope for equality and freedom in East Asia? Taiwan absolutely was on my radar and after a drunken moment during April 2023, I had booked up a five night visit to Taipei for 2024s National Day holiday. From the moment I paid for that holiday, chaos ensued because a lingering Super Typhoon was heading towards Taiwan a few days before I was scheduled to fly to Taipei! I landed by some fluke, I managed to see the delights of Ximen's rainbow crossing and have a mooch inside the 'Red House' before a government order closed all venues for the next three days. I did the most because the sun was shining, I went to 'The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall' because the train was still running! The sky was blue but winds almost swept me off my feet! 'Taipei 101' was a feature of my trip, the Japanese shopping centre shocked me that Taiwanese families were calm and children behaved very well! Of course, I frequented a few venues after dark! 'Toxic Fairy?' Taipei's Gay bars named their best drink after me! Yes, Taipei!  

My tour wasn't cancelled and I saw a lot! From a former gold mining town to an ocean crossroads filming site, it was eventful! The driver bought me a coffee and that never happened in a certain place! I saw a darling temple not far from '九份老街/Jiufen Old Street', I got a prayer read for me, light and success would be coming my way! Keelung rained out but I got to see some crazy limestone formations! Securing a light bite that reminded me of China's Fujian, those links were uncanny! Complicated cousins? Maybe! The night out was unhinged, I wore a 'Fundoshi' and saw some muscly Go-Go dancers! Braving the storm, I was able to get back out but the sun shined on the last day! 'Kaohsiung' will be for the next time I hop across the Taiwan Strait! The Botanical Gardens brought some colour into my life but going out during that last night was a whole choice! I was happy to get that Business Class treatment on the way back, I need help! Taipei was hectic but it was the 'free range' moment I needed! That park was mad! 

November 2024 saw me swing by Shanghai for the first real weekend since I had originally arrived into China during June 2015! My birthday was my celebration but life was the main motivator of that return visit. I had gotten to know China for the first time through that oceanside international port city, I was ready to revisit without the culture shock rocking my world! June 2025 would be occupied with Dragon Boat Festival things, I wanted to get in that Shanghai weekend before my Philippine return. Taking first class on the high speed train trumped the mammoth journey from London to Shanghai I had originally took via Sri Lanka! I had booked a doozy, the hotel that I had booked was the building the driver tried to drop me off at first because it was around the corner from that questionable place I had scrimped on! That 2024 accommodation was ace, it gave me a much softer bed than the first hotel could have ever done! Waking up fresh the next day, I was ready to take it to the former 'French Concession', S! 

Breakfast was bougie with shakshuka ordered within the former French Concession, I wanted more than those Ningbo settings! Wanderings had been made, I made up for time lost since my last visit in 2015! I could never count that 2017 train departure as a worthy definition of a reunion! Returning to the manic '人民广场/People's Square' had been completed, the gloomy skies deterred me from visiting the Bund! I had gone back to Shanghai during December 2023 but that was just for the free-flow and Christmas Markets, a weekend trip would count! Making those steps back to June 2015 had me feeling weird, I walked past my first hostel in the country along '永寿路/Yongshou Road' with a functioning hotel still operating. I was staying around the corner! A raucous night was had, I had drank to my hearts content and enjoyed a gorgeous tea of Pizza! I managed to hop to three nighttime places during a chaotic 'After Hours' moment! I knew Shanghai hadn't see the last of me, more regular visits would commence! Let's make HZ moves! 

The Philippines had touched my heart but tested me the first time round, I wanted more of that complicated paradise. Packing the most into twelve days, I went tour crazy for the second third part of my visit. I flew solo in Manila, I did the most but caught the raw edge of 'Ermita' once again and even had a cheeky night out in the hood! I saw where 'Bong Bong' does his business and clocked a Spanish looking 'Sunday Service!' 'Divisoria' put me in my place, I took everything in but I wasn't running scared! 'Binondo Church' showcased a cracking 'Nativity', twas the season! Cebu was complicated, the famous 'Santo Niño' denied me entry because I was wearing summer clothes in the spring heat! I marvelled at 'Magellans Cross' but I was feeling slightly under the weather at the same. Noche Buena gave me a Christmas Eve like no other! The bar I found on Christmas Day after my chaotic tour gave me the best present! I'd love to return! Let me just say, it was a heavenly Christmas in Cebu City! Bohol was just a boat ride away! Sige, po! 

Before I flew down to Zamboanga, I spent the day on the island of Bohol to see the 'Chocolate Hills', 'Tarsiers' and a whole lot of nature! My guide was a gem, he snuck me into 'Baclayon Church' even though my outfit was not aligned with the new religious code! Chavacano? A dialect 70% similar to Spanish spoken in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico?! Those damn Spaniards! Yes, I loved the Hispanic feel of Zamboanga, I got schooled in every single field and saw a pink beach! The flu? I came down with a rotten bug but I didn't know what it was! Taking a private car up to 'Zamboanga Del Norte' allowed me to stay in a gorgeous resort called 'Dakak', it was what I needed! I saw where 'Dr. Jose Rizal' spent years in exile by the Spanish, it was a true honour to see that shaded place. Tourism did seem a bit fresh in that part of the Philippines, I was not mad! I know in my heart that the Philippines has a greater plan for me! Never-mind a third visit, I want to return there for retirement! Vigan and Baguio are next!

Babalik Ako, Mga Bakla! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure