Today is the Day

TITD10

WALA AKONG pinalagpas na minuto para malibot ang magagandang lugar sa Los Angeles. Lahat ay worth it, hindi masasayang ang gasolina sa paglilibot kahit na maraming tao.

Every place is superb. Para akong batang paslit, tuwang-tuwa sa nakikita sapagkat hindi ko maiwasang mamangha.

Imbes na maligo kami sa kulay asul na tubig ng Venice Beach ay napagpasiyahan naming maglakad-lakad at busugin ang mga mata sa natatanging ganda ng Venice. Akala ko ay nasa Italy ako bigla dahil kilang-kilala doon ang Venice, pero nasa Los Angeles pala ako. There are many art walls for street arts in this landmark. There is also a skate park where talented skateboarders perform.

It is parallel to the beach when we arrived at the Venice Boardwalk. I find many funky shops, street performers, and art murals. It's mesmerizing to walk through here and admire all weird and wonderful things.

I quietly observed all things that I surpass. My eyes are gleaming as we came to the well-known Venice Canals. The architectural design of houses is unique and modern. Almost every house on the canals has a dock, and half of them have some form of boat that they can take on the water. It seems like it would be a pretty cool life to simply walk outside your door, get in your gondola, and travel down the waterway to the neighbor’s house. The other standout for this area is the lavish houses that line the canals. There are a few small bridges to go to each bank of canals.

“Nasaan sila tita at tito?” kunot-noong tanong ko nang mapansin kong nawala sila bigla.

Kanina lang ay nandito pa sila. Kasabay naming naglalakad habang magkahawak-kamay at naririnig ko pa silang nagkukuwentuhan ni tito. Baka tumigil sila sa bike rental na nadaanan namin kanina at naisipang magbisikleta sandali.

“They are going somewhere to date too. Ite-text na lang daw nila tayo para magkita-kita sa lunch.”

Tumango ako sa narinig. Nag-usap pala sila at hindi ko man lang napansin dahil masyado akong nawili sa pagsiyasat sa paligid. Ibinaba ko ang kamay kong nakahawak sa braso niya pababa sa kaniyang palad. Ipinagsalikop ko ang palad naming dalawa at naramdaman ang pagpisil niya sa aking kamay.

I beamed. I discovered an idyllic scene: arching pedestrian bridges, charming beach houses, bunches of ducklings.

“Hindi ba tayo puwedeng mag-renta ng bangka?”

I can see everything from the sidewalks and it's a great place to walk through, but I want to try to ride in the boat.

“The canals are a residential neighborhood, so there are no commercial boat rentals.”

It is primarily a neighborhood of houses. “Marina del Rey at Fisherman's Village has boat and SUP rentals,” he said, smilingly.

“Then can we go there?” I ask as I smiled back.

Nagmaneho siya papunta roon at gaya ng inaasahan ko ay marami ring tao. Nagpa-iwan ako sa labas para lumanghap ng sariwang hangin na umiihip. Sinundan ko na lamang si Chrysler nang matapos silang magtanguan ng kausap niya at magngitian. Nangangatog ang tuhod kong sumampa sa bangka at halos mapiga ko na parang basang panyo ang palad niya sa higpit ng hawak ko.

Nakita kong umawang ang bibig niya sa ginawa ko, kaya bago ko maluwagan ay dali-dali akong lumapit sa upuan 'tsaka humawak sa railings. Inayos ko ang suot kong dilaw na bago umupo.

Umandar ang bangkang sinasakyan namin. It's fun to meander through the Marina by boat. The cloudless sky and stimulating cool air touched my cheeks.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang makita ang pamilyar na damit ng parents niya. I raised my hand to wave as I recognized Tita. She is wearing a navy blue oversized sweater while Tito is wearing a black cardigan.