The photo above was taken about a week ago. I just love how that shattering hue of blue is enhanced with the plants and lamppost in it. No one else would know just by looking at that picture that it was taken during a really cool morning, because it might as well have been taken during the summer anyway. But I just love that shade as to me it signifies that the amihan season in the Philippines has begun.
Along with the changes in season come the seasonal photos
posted by my friends on social media as well who are scattered around the world.
I have several friends who have already shared their own photos about snow in
September (Canada), how it is snowing just now in their area (some other
temperate areas in the northern hemisphere), while some are enjoying springtime
(Australia and New Zealand) in the last quarter of the year. Now, winter has always
held some magical mystery for me as it is the only season that I have never
experienced yet. What's it like to experience snow? What does it actually look
and feel like? How long until I get sick of it? Will I get sick of it?
Having lived in a tropical island for most of my life, I
have always wondered all of those things. The closest thing to experiencing a
wintry weather was when I went to the States in the springtime. That really
felt like I was in a freezer. Funny cos a relative from Michigan who was also in
California at that time mentioned how it was warmer there. In a swarm of people
who cavorted about wearing shorts and shirts, I was the only one bundled in a
thick jacket, wearing two shirts, and still shivering from what I guess was a
balmy 60s or so. Ha.
So yeah. If that springtime weather felt like winter, what
more if I went somewhere right now where it's actually winter? Complete with
snow and the windchill factor. Yikes.
There is a running joke here in the Philippines when one
talks about the weather. When a foreigner asks a Filipino about the weather,
the Filipino replies, "We have two kinds of weather here: hot and
hotter." That couldn't have been more accurate. If it's not raining, it's
hot. If the humidity is really high, good luck, cos it means rain but only
after suffering under such sweltering heat first. Summer is the last stretch of
the country's dry season in the Philippines. Visitors will survive hanging out
in malls during the day if they're not lounging in some island soaking up the
sun and splashing about in azure waters.
If I get to be asked which season is my favourite, I'd say
the dry season, which has started in late October. People here in my country
can now enjoy drier yet cooler weather again brought about by the northeast
monsoon which we call amihan. So while winter and playing in the snow are still
light years away from becoming a reality for me, I am content snuggling under
furry blankets wearing jammies in this cool weather. Hot cocoa in the mornings
or the chillier evenings is in order too.
======================
Commuting in Metro Manila is not for the faint-hearted. One should
be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared for what is in store when
battling it out with the masses of people for a choice seat in any of the
available public transportation. Rush hour is the thing of the past, which can
be easily and sadly, painfully felt at this time of the year since Christmas is
fast approaching. Minutes matter to those marching off to work in the morning
because leaving the house just a few minutes later can spell horrendous traffic
and difficulty in getting on a bus, train, or jeepney. People who drive their
own cars don't fare well either.
Which is why the hapless hordes can just be thankful for
small mercies. In my experience, that would be the bus lane, the P2P
(point-to-point) buses, being able to find a seat the moment I get on the bus,
so on and so forth. Because if I focus on the fact that I have to allot two and
a half freaking hours' worth of travel time each day instead of maybe just
thirty minutes or so in an ideal world (and so much more, to be honest), I'd go
raving mad.
But really. Working at home now is the way to go. Leaving the
house only when necessary is fine.
======================
I'll end this drivel with something more substantial. My
Long Forgotten Cloistered Sleep is another excellent work of the musical
enchantress Yuki Kajiura and sung by one of her singing groups called
FictionJunction. It was a nice surprise to see that Wakana and Keiko of
Kalafina are also part of it. There are two other singers in FictionJunction
who I'm not familiar with yet as this is the first time I've listened to this
group's songs.
The song is also the first English song composed by Ms.
Kajiura that I've listened to. I love the medieval-like melody of this song
which is characteristic of most of Ms. Kajiura's compositions. Good thing
there's a live version of it which showcases her on the keyboards and
FictionJunction at the vocals.
Hit play and enjoy!
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