Remembering Zermatt

 I arrived in Zermatt at night time, from a train trip that started from Zurich. It was almost seven in the evening and I still have to look for the AirBnb I signed up. Upon alighting from the train I called the owner and told him that I was at the train station.

He then told me that I need to walk towards the downtown and he will wait for me at the Pizza corner near the alley where he lives. It was a tad 200 meters walk from the train station when I saw the pizza corner and there he was, waiting for me at the bench near the street.

I followed him up the hill where he lives and it was a steep climb. Carrying my carry on luggage was a little bit of a discomfort but we made it to his apartment. He introduced himself to me and there I know that he was a retired American surgeon and he chose to retire here in Zermatt.

He has a lot of businesses in California and had been enjoying his life and retirement in Switzerland. He offered me a tea and cookie and then I took a warm shower because it was cold at night there. And then, I rested for the night because I was very tired from the long trip from Saint Moritz to Zurich and Zurich to Zermatt. I have to transfer twice in order to arrive there. I should have took the Bernini train that leaves from Saint Moritz to Zermatt, but it was very costly.

The next morning, I woke up and my host was already awake. He offered me a warm coffee and cheese sandwich and then instructed on places to go since I am there only for one day. I didn't know he already programmed my itinerary which was pretty much very convenient for me.

It was five in the morning and the sun was already creeping out from the horizon. The village was still in a deep slumber and I was already out trying to witness the magical scenery that opened up before me. As the sun slowly crept out the village was slightly illuminated by the reflection of it's rays against the snow capped mountains that surrounded the village. It was a beautiful sight.

I went down the apartment and took the path down towards the centerville. At the slight bend when I was going down I saw on my left side the beautiful Matternhorn with its North face illuminated by the sunlight and it turned out golden and bright from my vantage point of view. It was a magical moment for me, so I immediately captured it  by clicking my camera. I was in awe and feeling fortunate!

I regretted having spent one day there, I should have stayed for two days more for there's a lot a hiking  activities to be done there. I am entranced of this village and vowed to come back again in the future. Hopefully, I could go back.

I went down to the downtown and explored all its nooks and crannies. I walked and walked a thousand steps to just peruse the whole village, (hahaha not really  the whole village). But I enjoyed strolling around there and immersed myself in its beauty. 

Zermatt is a beautiful place, touristy but it has it's allure. The early morning view at the hill was stunning and the golden Matternhorn was a sight to behold. That's why Zermatt has it's own magic despite how crowded the downtown is. I could not go to a hike at that time because of the snow and the biting cold but I vowed to come back there when it is not snowing and when the flowers blooms and spreads its fragrance from the mountain.

This is just a preliminary orientation about Zermatt and I am well acquainted of the place already. I left the place with a numbed heart but it's always like that when I say goodbye to a place I like. Hopefully, it will be better. 

The Joys Of Traveling

Traveling was always an avenue for me to discover new things. I've always attributed it to just immerse in a new world that is apart from mine, which is technically true. I never imagined I can do it extensively at this point of my life because of my aging status. But, I liked it so much.

The thrill of discovering new things, meeting new friends, immersing in new culture, trying new and strange foods, etc. was an epitome of honing you to be mature. You learn to adapt to the strange environment and learn how to do things beyond your means. For me, it is a wonderful thing to experience.

You notice, that you left with so much expectations and learn all those things on the spot and then when you come back you were totally a different person because you mature a little bit learning new things and perspectives. You learned to be open and receptive to everything around you. It was a feeling of fulfillment at the least.

I just came back from a Patagonian Trip and still planning to do another trip for another wonderful experience. It was kinda routinary for me to just go and come back then plan and leave again for another one. 

I started traveling late at my 30s then after my first travel to Europe things had just evolved to continuity. I can't just stop. My friends were teasing me that I have restless leg syndrome. Hahaha. But honestly, I guess they were right. I can endure walking miles and miles away when I am traveling and I am unstoppable, It was indeed an addiction!

Well, traveling had given me an avenue to side track myself from the stress of work and coming back form it I felt fresh and recharged. It's a good feeling coming back from a long trip. As if you don't what to come back to work. 

If I have so much money, I will just travel endlessly and make it as a living. Being single can make me travel to my liking without any problems  and I was fortunate to have a situation like that and has the means to do it because of my job. I can just schedule myself to escape from work without affecting my full time job because I can joggle my schedule independently.

It is a blessing that I started traveling when I was on my late 30s and I didn't regret it. Now I have recorded tons of memories in my mind and in my phone and in my other online accounts that always reminded me everyday about them and for me to reminisce all those pictures and imagine the good and bad things from that experiences.

It made me more aware that things happened in life to make you more mature and experienced. Yes indeed, traveling had made me mature and experienced about life. All those memories I have collected were my treasures and having those people can't just rob it from me because no memories can be bought with money. 

They say, money talks, but on this instance money cannot buy your memories. It is deeply rooted in you and nobody can take that away from you. Remember that always!

Bottling Up

 Yes, I am in a daze. Every time I encountered her, I am quite in a different realm. But it seems that we have different perception of each other. 

I felt so prideful when I come to encounter her. And so was she! Seems like she has some reservations as well. Two persons who acts professionally at each other yet cannot find some chance to say a word to each other. But as I can perceived it, the nonverbal cues that I saw was very indicative of a very deep emotions to me.

I don't know if it is just a one-way street or a two-way one. But to me the pre-emptions was strikingly similar to two strangers trying to evade each other but with quite a hint of precaution, maybe not to hit each one's ego or  it was just me who is trying to overthink about the situation.

Here I am again, reading through the tacit actions. My clairvoyant talent seems like doesn't hit the bullseye at this time. Hahaha....

You know what, honestly was I the one who just feel excited about this charade? I can't really fathom this emotions but believe me it was deep like an abyss and I can't help myself getting drowned from it. Or was I just crazy enough to think about it. Crazy enough that I maybe scream "Wonder Woman" at this time. Hahaha...

So what I did, I just bottled up this pent up emotions, hold it to myself and not show it to my close friend just to avoid misinterpretation and overthinking. I hope this is a wise decision. Aaaah! I cannot take this anymore. My guilt eats me up because of this.

I hope I can get over this immediately and not be discovered later because it will be too embarrassing if she will find it out. Oh no!

There were two instances that I sneaked a keychain on her jacket's pocket, not once but twice. Can you believe it? I was sleuthing really well when I did it and luckily I did it with success. It was a bit scary but oh well I did it. I just wonder what's her reaction when she discovered of this mementos.

I know she doesn't have any idea but to come to think of it it was indeed scary. What if she doesn't like it? What if she has an idea that if was me? I guess what I felt about her is not obvious to her, but too brave for me to do.

I know eventually this slight charade will be discovered so I better stop it while it is early. For me, I guess it is enough to have stirred her world a little bit. The charm of my little adventure will for sure leave an indelible mark on her and I hope she will cherish the effort of the actions I did.

Brazilian Lesson

 My last trip was in Sao Paolo, Brazil. It was been planned long time ago because it is just apt to go now because by April 2025, the Brazilian Immigration will now require American citizens to apply for a visa for entry.

Since I miss Sao Paolo and the good looking boys, I carefully planned this trip for this reason. Brazil is huge and a lot of beautiful places to foray and each places has their own characteristics just like its boys. And besides it is one of the country in South America that I always wanted to explore, so for this trip I mainly concentrate at Sao Paolo, Curitiba, and Bahia region.

I met some new friends before, during my first trip. But I was with a group and was just restrained when it comes to exploring socially. Yes, we've been to several nice places in Rio de Janiero and Sao Paolo but I never really explored the night life scene there which I have heard was even nice.

On this trip, I have met a lot of boys and I have enjoyed their company. They brought me to awesome places to really leave an indelible mark for my vicarious experiences in Curitiba and Bahia. I really did enjoy the beach despite of the rainy days when I was there. 

Brazil offers a lot of good experiences. Despite my fear of the notoriety of the "cariocas" in Bahia, I still fathom my fear and faced the challenges ahead and indeed ended victorious in the end. 

I really did not regret going and if given more chances, I will come back again a thousand times. Being around beautiful people gives me the urge to enjoy the feeling of being with them. It's just a fulfilling feeling to have it. And I am glad I did it despite some enormous hesitations I've had initially during the planning phase.

Yes, there were some bumps along the way but yeah.... that's life as they say. There we're no lessons to be learned if someone just don't face the challenge. In the end whether it is a positive or a negative outcome, still there's always a lesson to learn. Even one lesson is enough to trigger the wheel of life of turn.

Indeed, my travel hobby had brought me to many places but to ne honest there's some places that I need to go back which had left a big impact in my life. And I would hesitate to do it if given a chance.