Hang Over

It started when we were on the way to see the pyrrho dynamics show a few days before New Year. The traffic turns out to be diabolical, and so the three of us rolled down the window, played urbandub’s embrace to the notch, and amused ourselves by coming up with each best and worst of 2005.

WORST HANGOVER of 2005

Definitely New Year in Doha! How many times have I sworn off Tequila in my life? Countless! And yet, when Jose’s in front of me I just can’t say NO. That was such a nasty hangover it took me three days and a dozen or so of Gatorade to recover. And to think that alcohol is illegal in Doha.

Whilst we are still in the tequila talk, may I add last Christmas hangover as well. It took six bloody hours for the turkey to cook and so while waiting for lunch, we came up with this drinking game where one has to keep on drinking until one comes up with an answer. And my friend Frank makes the meanest strawberry daiquiri in town. He puts so much shit in there, you are safer drinking diesel. The last thing I remember before passing out was drinking tequila out of a flute glass and gulping it like as if it is champagne. A week later, I was sent the dry cleaning bill for the sheets I puked all over. Probably the most expensive hangover I will ever have.

BEST DRINKING SESSION of 2005

Pre-new years party! A bottle or two (or three?) of rhum, coke light and ice. Urbandub in the background. My best friends. And a whole night of dissing people we know, dissing people we don’t know, laughing our asses off, telling stories that has been told a thousand times, remembering the insignificant nits that fucked up our lives, basking in each other awesomeness, drinking ourselves into oblivion! Perfect moment.

BEST URBANDUB GIG of 2005

Their las gig in El Pueblo before they flew back to Cebu for the holidays. When Gabi sang Fraility, we raised our bottles to him he waved at us! We kick ass! But of course I have to ruin it for my friends when, after the gig, I went up to Gabi and chatted him up. My friends swore I scared the shit out of him that night, aside from the obvious fact he is half my height and has to look up to me when we talk, I told him I’m flying to Cebu. Must have raised his stalker alarm bells. Fuck, but he did rub my shoulders. I did not shower for two days.

WORST GIG of 2005

Urbandubs first album tour gig in Capones. I finished a bottle of rum at home and so fucking pissed even before I got there. I fought with the bouncer, I harassed my friends, I was too pissed to mosh. I had my first, and hopefully last, fight with Sam that night. I walked out on them and grab a cab home. It was such a bad trip. I was hating myself for a week after that.

As they say, shit happens for a reason. And I did learn a lesson from that night. Never drink alone. Be half sober when you go out on a gig. And don’t be a war freak. Ok ok theres nothing wrong with being a war freak just don’t take it on your friends. After all, that’s what waiters are for. (from then on, I only drink beer at capones. I’ll never know if that waiter remembers me and god knows what he can put in my rum coke)

BEST NON URBANDUB SONG of 2005

Dito Tayo sa Dilim by Pedicab. I have got to see Diego live!

BEST URBANDUB SONG OF 2005

Parked Car!! Nyt Sky!! Alone with you tonight!! Our song plays on Radio!

BEST RESTAURANT of 2005

Now this is the tough part. I’ve made quite a few discoveries this year but old favorites like Nuvo, L’opera, Wasabi and Le Souffle would always have a soft spot in my heart and, shall I add, my tummy. I had the pleasure of having dinner at Chef Laudico’s for my birthday and that night is pure magic. It was more than six months ago and yet I remember each dish like as if I had it yesterday. It is the little details that takes me: the cranberry vinaigrette that goes with foi gras salad was so innovative without being fusion, the lobster sauce reduction in the pasta of the surf and turf plate was bursting with flavour without overpowering the other entry in the dish, and the strawberry sorbet, aaaaaaaah the strawberry sorbet – blows my palate and mind away!

WORST RESTAURANT of 2005

You will never find me dining at the following places again:

Old Swiss Inn – overpriced (diner food but greenbelt pricetag), tacky interiors, poor service

Azurro – a bar pretending to be a restaurant. Supposedly fusion but hardly imaginative. And above all, they served me an off Foi gras, I returned the plate and still got charged for it. They did give me three free cream puffs with my coffee though.

Segafreddo – overpriced. Mediocre food. Puny serving. Cheap beer though.

BEST COMFORT FOOD FINDS of 2005

MiniStops Siopao

Thai BBQ’s Red Beef Curry

Chickenjoy (Classic)

WORST TRIP of 2005

Company summer trip to Bataan. Need I say more?

BEST TRIP of 2005

Palawan cruise last November.

BEST BUY of 2005

Ipod. Can’t live without it.

WORST STUPID THING I DID for 2005

Having an appendectomy which cost me an arm and a leg

BEST STUPID THING I DID for 2005

Going back home. Embracing the hopelessness of this country. Facing my ghost rather than running away from it. Giving up a dream, a chance for greatness for this mediocre numbing existence