just another evening in Manila

sitting on the covered patio as the remaining light fades from dusk to night
inhaling the lingering scent of a late afternoon thundershower
seeing lightening now off in the distance over the next mountain ridge
listening to the symphony of night insects
a man is making his nightly round walking down the street, selling, "balut, baluuuuuuut!" [what is balut? find out here]
hearing geckos chirping from different corners of the grounds... one chirps above me...
looking up just in time to see it's tail disappear over a rafter beam
watching the palm trees dance gently in the breeze
inhale... exhale...
and tomorrow, another goodbye to another beautiful place and more beautiful people