What lies ahead in 2013?

Another year is coming to a close yet again. 

I visited Lisbon recently with a friend. It was one of my most enjoyable trips. First, I flew in to Zurich from New York to visit Kelvin, a friend of mine for more than 25 years. He had a cancerous tumor in his nose, and he was going through treatment at that time. Ulcers were multiplying like wild mushrooms in his mouth. Seeing him enduring the pain, I thought how much we should all appreciate those precious seconds we all had that moment in time. 

We went to Club T&M, Zurich's first gay disco with live shows, celebrating 25 years in business. It was announced that the club would be closing at the beginning of 2013. "I used to perform there as a guest." Kelvin said. I joked that with all the pounds he lost, he should be able to fit into his old gown, and performed there for one last time. On my last day in Zurich, I met with Bruno, another friend I came to know 15 years ago. He took me to Peclard Zurich, a boutique cafe famous for its delicious looking pastries that feast the eyes. The atmospheric Christmas lights, and the seasonal Holiday Markets certainly lift the spirits up during the Holiday Seasons. I felt lucky to be in the company of good old friends in Zurich.

Now back to Lisbon. Whether I and my friend, Bebe, were in our room, or in a restaurant we were talking about the reality of aging - greying hair, losing stamina, eyesight, memory and the list goes on. Pretty scary feeling but we just kept laughing and teasing at each other while contemplating the things we were able to do before. "Portugal has no money, this country is bankrupt." said our tour guide in frustration. And, suddenly getting old in this modern day era tells us how lucky we are coming from the generation known as X. We've gone through the disco era, the fall of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany, the formation of the EU membership, and the rise and fall of the Asian Tigers, not forgetting the internet boom and the housing bust. All these events had either given birth to new countries while freed others, and they had made travel to those affected countries so much easier than ever before.

I visited Ukraine and Romania last year. I never thought I would be in Bosnia or Panama when I was young. But I did. 

Myanmar is slowly opening up its door to the world. Since the dismantling of the military's role in government and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011, the country is seeing a huge jump in the number of tourists to the country. You can add me to the tourism statistics for 2013 as I am going to Yangon with two other friends. As I grow older, I am planning to visit countries that are not tourist friendly such as Mongolia and Bolivia as opposed to France and Denmark. Places I would like to go in 2013 besides Myanmar are Hong Kong, Ecuador, and the Baltic states. I am hoping  visit Belgium with a friend to immerse myself into the Holiday Spirits in December. 

 Kelvin is slowly recovering now in Zurich. I promised to see Bruno soon, and I told Bebe we would have to plan another trip again. Time comes and goes just like people we met throughout our lifetime. But for now, I am planning to seize the moment, and treasure them for as long as I live.

A 14-hour layover

I like to watch Anthony Bourdain's programs on the Travel Channel. The Layover is interesting as it is a 48 hour non-stop eating program to fill one's appetite. 

Here I was in Amsterdam's Grand Central Station in a 14-hour layover at 7 pm before my flight back to New York the next day at 9 am. While snapping pictures in the station, I was wondering if I could match Anthony's quest for good food, good company, and sightseeings along the way. 

Weather was uncooperative that day. It was rainy, windy and cold. Sky was already dark when I stepped out of the station. I could see that construction was being done in and out of the main entrance. As I ventured further, I saw hundreds of bicycles parked on designated parking areas. I had never seen so many bikes before.

I walked past canal after canal and suddenly I was at Nine Streets. 

Nine Streets are famous for the quirky stores, chic boutiques, intimate cafes and restaurants as well as other specialty shops to serve the MTV generation. Most of the stores are run by local proprietors, so do not expect to see Zara or H & M here. With the clock ticking away, and my stomach growling for food, I began my quest for my first meal in Amsterdam. Not knowing where and what I would like to eat, I stumble into a place which looked pretty cool. The menu was pretty huge. I began to feel skeptical, and decided to order a soup first. It was one of the worst meals I had ever tasted. The soup tasted like a package from an instant noodle soup based in hot water with a few tiny shrimps, mussels and scallops. I was 6.50 Euro lighter when I left the restaurant!

The centuries old buildings along the canals have huge windows. I could see from outside, and judging from what I saw I could tell most are artists, sculptures, or designers by professions. As I walked, I came across galleries, and antique shops. With the cold wind blowing, I had to look for the bathroom. Finally, decided to call it a night. I found a place to sleep for the night, and left the city at 5 am the next day.

Did I match Anthony Bourdain feat? Probably not, but he has 48 hours with help from his producers. As for me, I had less than 14 hours and a city map. Call me a sore loser! 

But for my next layover, I will do a lot better as I wait for my flight back to New York.