Leo P. Olobia
Home
- - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - -
Journal
- - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - -
Pinoys in the High Seas
Hauntings By the Polish Spirit
Classical Music in
Your Being
Searching For My Own
Theater Group 1 and 2
A Traveler's Diarrhea
Coming Home, Indeed
Philosophical Lessons
in Life
My Romance In Miami
High School Memoirs 1
and 2
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
About me:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I was born
and raised in Tacloban City, Philippines where I received my first piano
lessons at the age of 7. This turned out to be the turning point of my
career in music. I still recall the day I first heard a piano playing in
my neighbor’s house. It was the greatest sound I’d ever heard
and at that point I knew I wanted to be a pianist."
(more...)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 at BQR 10/26/04.