dongix's VirtualTourist Home Page

"Welcome back Dongix!!!" That's me giving myself a nice, warm welcome greetings (sad). I have been hibernating for a long while now - well not exactly me but my VT account that is. On the contrary I had been too busy with work, family and life in general that I almost forgot about this beautiful, wonderful world of virtual travel that is VT.

On the other hand, a welcome back phrase seems to be more apt to start this intro with. My travel last 2007 brought me back home. Even though I make it a point to go home every year (except for last 2006), this time I found myself being drawn deeply to the hometown where I grew up. This time seemed to be the longest, most fruitful, most meaningful and most special visit, after years of living away from home.

I have met a lot of close family members and relatives. I have met old friends, old neighbors and old classmates. I made new friends too. As I drove a bicycle (something I haven't done for years) past the vast green rice fields in our barangay, a few memories of the bygone years came back to me. Some houses have changed. Saw unknown faces along the way but there’s something about our place that remained unchanged even though I can’t actually see what it is - I can only feel it.

I have (just) discovered the beauty of my humble hometown - the ricefields, the sunsets and the sea that I never give much attention to back then, thanks to my new found interest in photography. I had to wake up at 5 in the morning almost everyday to catch the early morning sun with my father. It was a good thing because it served as some sort of a bonding between me and him who (by the way) wasn’t too keen to have conversation with me (or with most others, I think). I know it’s odd and I don’t know what’s wrong with him (or me) but that’s the fact. This time he still doesn’t speak that much but at least he tried to ask some few questions.

Now I miss home again. I missed my mother's small but very beautiful garden. I missed watching the sunset right from our porch. I missed the warm smiles of our neighbors or the sound of the crickets at night. Whoever will say there's no place like home, I couldn't agree with you more.

I'm off to Texas again this coming June. My dream to see NY will have to remain a dream - yet again. (No complains though) I'll be there for at least 3 weeks while my wife and daughters (yes, plural with an "s") will be there for 3 months. They're there on my wife's maternity leave and we won't be wandering away from Texas too much because of our (soon to be) new born second daughter Gabrielle.

Nevertheless I'm so looking forward for another road trip down America's interstate highways. Best bet would be Arkansas for another nature trip and some historical architecture and streets - and it's close to Texas.