A day by the beach

Rugaya called this morning as planned, we're off to her friend Nick's beach house on a nearby island. I get a few things at the delicatessen (a trendy supermarket really), watched as thousands of Philipino's gather around the square for a concert later this afternoon, and hop in a cab to meet Rugaya near her house. Another cab and we're at the ferry/slash wholesale fish market. It's misty today, so not much to see in journey, but relaxing and feels a bit more adventurous then anything I've done lately. Not knowing really where we're going contributes:-) We get off at first island stop, a few houses, amongst which, Nick's house. Basta and x greet us. Before I leave that evening I'll have grown quite fond of Basta, wish I could take him with me. We exchange stories, have coffee, chill, share more stories. Rugaya and Nick prepare the lunch/dinner, and while it's all roasting in oven, we go off for a walk around the island, passing banana groves (are they called that?), large ginger fields (blooms are over, but Nick finds a few flowers for me to whiff at, wonderful, like strong jasmin). En route, we pick up another dog, 2 actually. We end up on a small beach, secluded, right out of The Beach. By the time we are back, 2 hrs + later, dinner is ready, yummy! We are starving, and feel justifies with the walk to eat our full, including cheesecake from the very improbable restaurant next door. Improbable as they are about 15 houses along Nick's house, and that one big restaurant. It doesn't seem like a very eventful day, but it turned out to be the highlight of my stay so far, just cozy time spent with friends' friends, and a georgous walk in nature. The dogs remind me how much I miss Smelly. I'll always adore cats best, kind of was born with that love, but there is something about dogs, at leats big dogs that is so endearing, and a bond somehow stronger then with a cat.