Black Friday in Canada

My sister kept bugging me about the Black Friday. She wanted me to shop during my layover at Toronto, Canada on the 25th of November. I did not want to for I promised myself that I will start saving money after my vacation leave last September. But known to be a cash burner, I ate my words.

My original plan was to see Niagara Falls ONLY. Yes, luckily, it took place. Our arrival to Hilton Hotel was around 1:30 in the afternoon. My colleagues and I immediately dressed and groomed, then off we went to Ontario via Uber. We were hoping to see the falls before sunset. But the sun sets early in winter, so it did not work out. Nonetheless, I did not feel any disappointment upon laying my eyes on the multi-colored waterfalls. I was freezing that I could not feel my hands anymore. But like Elsa of Frozen feels, the cold never bothered me anyway. Haha! The falls is like a light masterpiece. It was so surreal! It's big, bold, and beautiful!

After savouring the moment, we took a meander round Ontario. Niagara Falls is just next to commercial area lined with several restaurants, hotels and casinos. It actually gave me a Las Vegas feels, minus the crowd.

A few more walks, we found a cab that dropped us to the Outlet Center along the express way.

Black Friday is not as big in Canada as it is in the US. There's not much of a traffic jam, no long queue of shoppers... Or perhaps, the BF madness was over as we did the shopping at night? Hmmm?! Anyhow, we reveled in this shopping holiday, especially I, who had no plan to spend moolah but splashed out. Oh dear!

My conclusion: It is better to see the Niagara Falls and better to go gaga over Black Friday on the Canadian side. Don't get me wrong. I love US, too.

Platform 9 ¾

I always lack the courage to go for a leisurely walk in foreign cities. For someone who has no sense of direction, like me, I am afraid to get lost in a place crowded by different nationalities.  Additionally, my parents always remind me not to go out of the hotel alone. I should always roam around with a colleague, they say. But since I've been trying to be adventurous, to conquer my fears, and to try something new the past months, forgive me for going out all by myself. Haha!

I got the guts to do this in a place where I am somehow familiar with, it's London. I always fly here every month that made me feel I am a Londoner already. Haha!

We got one whole day to spend and we would leave the next day in the afternoon. So, some of my colleagues went to the Big Ben which I saw thrice last year. Some went for shopping at Oxford. My original plan was to go to Platform 9 ¾ then proceed to Abbey Road zebra, where The Beatles did their famous walk, you know. But I realized, no one would take a good photo of me walking across the pedestrian crossing. Boy, it's not easy because you have to let some of the traffic go by. Yes, it is just a normal busy road where a lot of vehicles pass by. Thus, I opted for Platform 9 ¾ only.

At first, I had a hard time figuring out the way because the information I got from the man at the hotel concierge contradicts the information on the map itself. I disembarked at the wrong station. A local even told me that the platform is at a different place when I was already at the right one. Oh dear! Anyhow, I arrived at the platform after 2 hours of travelling and asking for a direction.

Platform Nine and Three Quarters is located at King's Cross Station. In the Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and his friends get onto the platform by walking through a brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. I am not a fan of Harry Potter, but I just felt like getting a cute photo with it. Haha! So, I joined the queue of people wanting to do the same. There is a luggage trolley embedded in the wall, and you can pretend you are off to Hogwarts express. There you find a professional photographer and an assistant. You can take a photo using your own phone or camera for free. You can also purchase the professional pictures inside the Harry Potter shop next to it.

It was a fun solo trip. I want to do it again, but of course, with extra alertness.

How can I let you go?

How many times do I have to reminisce about our memories before it dawns on me that it will never take place again? Memories of you and me that can never be replaced by anyone or anything.

How many times do I have to reread your handwritten letters before I can keep them in a box and finally keep them out of sight? Letters made out of your words that were carefully thought out.

How many times do I have to weep over those pictures before I let them get brittle and decay? Those pictures that did not just capture the moment, but our souls.

How many times do I have to search you before I can finally block you; be it online or in my real life? Searching to get a peek into your actual life; new photos, what have you done this weekend, future plans, or if you still miss me.

How many times do I have to utter the word goodbye before I can really let you go? Goodbye, a two-syllable word that would mean living this life without you.

Tell me... How can I let you go?

I Want to Write You A Letter

I want to write you a letter... A 5-page letter or even 10 pages; that contains all my resentment towards you; that tells you about living a part of my life in gall; and that informs you how often I ruminate of those months and years that have elapsed.

I want to write you a letter... To transcribe what my heart shouts every time you become extant then extinct; every time you permit other girls to flirt with you; every day that I drive to our common place and don't get to find you. I wanted to shout... Shout at the top of my lungs the day I saw you with other girl on Tuesday the 13th.

I want to write you a letter... To let you know how tired I am of hearing about your squad asking you to run away from me but you always choose not to. It doesn't give me the feeling of being one in a million. Not at all. You know how I feel? I feel worthless. Your confidante says that forever will I be a no good for you but you just do mum's the word. They don't know how I wept, begged, and chased. Yes, I have gone astray, but please don't make me feel that I am no longer capable of being loved. If they do not like me, just don't mention my name, as they have nothing good to say.  It kills me. They kill me.

I want to write you a letter... To admonish you for being extremely mindful of your ego. Also, I can call you my Mr. Right, with "always" in the middle. It hits you, yeah? Sure you are at odds with what I say, as I said, you just mind your own ego. I repeat, accept this fact.

I want to write you a letter... To list all the questions ramping and raging in mind. Questions that are increasing as we get farther and farther away from each other.

I want to write you a letter... To bid farewell. Farewell that has been bidden numerously. I have been going through the mill for years. 1st was hard. This 2nd has been afflictive. No more 3rd, please?

I want to write you a letter... Hoping everything will be solved as I am left unresolved.