BANANACUE
REPUBLIC
Vol I, No. 8
Oct 27, 2004
by Leoncio Olobia
TRAVEL:
A Traveler's Diarrhea
I have been traveling for many years now,
not because I can afford it. Most certainly not. My job as a
pianist in a luxury ship has brought me to exotic places in the Caribbean
and Northern America. Each day I see tourists from different
countries going through all kinds of troubles just so they can work on
their tan, which by the way I get it year-round.
Modern-day cruising
is all about commercialism the moment you come aboard. First, the
legendary tale of papparazzis will greet you at the doorstep with a
scripted line "it's free, take a pose". Then you see your innocent
smile in the gallery the day after and you think it's your lifetime
vacation, you can't let go of the moment. That's how they catch you
with buying the picture. Remember, no obligation to buy, but if you
like it, you're doomed. Photography is a million dollar business in
the cruise industry. From formal pictures to everyday activities,
you end up paying a lot for pictures way over your budget.
Next, the
onboard shops are decorated with jewelries, watches, perfumes with a blind
phrase "Duty-Free" so you tend to accumulate these overpriced luxury.
Americans are into compulsive buying especially if everything is on sale.
No matter what kind of junk it is, indulgence will be the name of the
game.
The ports in the
Caribbean are mushroomed with endless shops to saturate your appetite.
Restos are among my favorites. In Cozumel, Mexico for instance, a
proud culture of tacos, fajitas will fill you up and it's like everywhere.
Of course, they go well with tequila shots which can drain your wallet
easily because they're well over-priced. It's like rice, the more
you need, the higher the cost. Bad economics. Anyway, these
dining adventures are not to be missed in travel.
Of course entertainment onboard is superb. Broadway shows top the list and lounge music from international musicians comprise the package. These production shows are tricky in a way that the music being played is on tracks while live musicians overdub. Isn't it an outrage? Even worse, future entertainment will discard the horn sections of the orchestra. So it will just be the piano and drums that you see onstage but you hear a full orchestra. What's up with that?
These vessels are so big they can fit three football fields. Equipped with helipads for medical emergencies, 15-deck elevators, what more can you ask? Traffic. Well, over 3,000 guests plus 1,000 crew will have to stand long queues for dinner, showtimes, elevators, all kinds of hassle will be your daily companion. Sometimes, you end up staying in your stateroom to avoid the madness.
Oh, there's more. You think this affluence is for everybody? The crew stays down in the ghetto just like old times. A lot of them have zero privilege so their routine is work and cabin. It can be frustrating overtime, you tend to like your neighborhood and an army of anti-guest begins to develop keeping you out of the public areas.
Overall, these scenarios can be detrimental to your luxurious lifestyle, if you have social hang-ups but don't let them discourage you. Get out there, experience the never-ending madness of travel. It's all about fun, isn't it?
Posted 10/26/04.
"It's like rice, the more
you need, the higher the cost. Bad economics."