A day in the life of Reyna in Houston, Texas – Part 1

Houston, Texas is a 5-hour drive from New Orleans in Louisiana. Sayang nga, there have been many times I planned to drive to Houston when I was working in New Orleans. It never came to fruition. I have always been busy at work and the kind of work I did in New Orleans was beyond the usual things I typically do kaya.

I went to Houston to attend a Professional Development Training. I was excited for two things. One, I am part of a team to craft our agency’s 5-year plan and this is quite an opportunity for me. The other of course is my love for travel, since this is my first time in this big city. Houston is bigger than Philadelphia and I believe, in the next census, Houston will surpass Chicago.

I parked my car at the airport and took the Southwest Airlines non-stop flight to Houston. I was flying cheap. Travel time took about 3 hours. Make it 4 hours because of the 1 hour time difference. The plane, a 737 was not full. The only thing that bothered me about travel was the total body scan at the airport where they can see your wa-to-si. What can you do. If you complain, they’ll tag you as Bin Laden. No complaints. Ogle at it. Touch it if you want. I just don’t know how many levels of radiation penetrate your body every time you travel. Wait a few more years on the effect of these machines to travelers.

It was pretty cloudy but otherwise a smooth ride. The rain started and I heard that there was going to be a storm in the morning. Man!

In no time, I was waiting for my baggage at the William P. Hobby Airport. This is now called the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The place was pretty organized. I head straight to the taxi line.

I was impressed at what I saw. Mamacita was still driving! Who’s manning the kitchen?! The kids?! Oh! Momma Mia! You don’t see this in Philadelphia, in New Orleans or in Charleston! Those guys were laughing at me when I took the picture. She noticed me and she laughed!

I asked the taxi attendant what zone is Best Western Downtown. He said, Zone 2. I checked the board and it would cost me about $22-$25. Not bad. A taxi pulled in front of me. I threw my stuff and off we drove!

The rain would not let up. It was getting dark too. And it’s hard to see outside.

I mean, check this out. The taxi has all sorts of stickers pasted on the window! As in duh! Why would they do that? Put some barbed wire to complete the package!

The taxi driver is Samuel. He gave me his number that he will pick me up when I leave Houston. Deal.

The rain continued, as expected, there was traffic on the highway as everyone else was driving very slow. I checked the meter and it was about $30 when we arrived at the hotel! How did that happen?! Am I in Zone 20?! I gave him $35.

All taxi drivers must have been born the same?!

I did not have lunch in Charleston when I left. I figured, I’ll just order the entire kitchen when I arrive. I was starving.

To my surprise, the hotel doesn’t have any restaurant! Argh!~!@#$%^&*(!!!

It was a Wednesday, they said they have a happy hour and they have sandwiches at the counter – for free! I didn’t really like it. But I was bloody hungry and if I don’t take half of it, I’ll probably swallow this woman at the counter alive! Grr!!

“Are there any restaurants around here?” I asked.

They could not even give me a straight answer. One guy said that he could drop me off at Hard Rock Cafe. Where is that, I ask? About 5-10 minute drive from here, he said.

“What?!”

I figured, I must be in the middle of nowhere in Houston! And if I miss dinner? I’m sure I’ll still be alive tomorrow. What the heck. Fine! No dinner! I was already counting how much I would lose in terms of body weight. Yeah! Think positive!

I was pretty disappointed at this hotel. Then again, it was my fault. I could have chosen the Doubletree which is right in downtown. But this hotel is also nice! Check this out! Although I’ve seen better rooms, this one is not bad.

It’s pretty cozy.

It has that “homey” feeling.

And they have some pretty friendly staff here. I notice, most of them were Hispanic.

“Are there any bars around here?” I asked this guy at the counter.

“In fact, there’s one. Just right outside. It’s called Tony’s.”, he said.

“Good! I’ll just go there! Have some drinks! Get drunk so I can forget hunger and starvation!”, I said.

“It’s a gay bar, though!” he said.

“What difference does it make? Drinks at gay bar and straight bar will both make you drunk! Am I right?”

They were all laughing.

I’m not.

So, I braved the rain, walked outside! And it was just right beside the hotel!

The place was almost empty. There were two (2) drag queens performing. I was going to take pictures but became conscious when they started staring at me. I guess, because I was an alien? Hahaha!

While the show was going on, one guy sat beside me and started interrogating me.

“Is this a job interview?” I asked him. He laughed!

He asked me, “What’s your nationality?”

“I’m Irish.” I said.

“No you’re not! You’re Filipino!” he laughingly said!

“You spied on me?! You checked my credit records?! You’re a stalker!” I said.

Well, that started the evening.

Meanwhile, he was winning the bingo game.

I was not really interested with the bingo. I was also not interested with the singing. I was determined to get drunk and forget starvation. Hahaha! That was my goal. Ok. Sort of. But not really. Well, maybe. Grr! Ano ba?!

So I went outside. They have this deck. And this is what I saw.

What a sight! Houston’s beautiful skyline!

As I enjoy the sight, one guy came over and pointed me to the these two buildings – that they used to be the Enron Buildings. “They’re evil!” said one guy. I remained silent. I know their story. This was part of my Ethics Class in Business School at Temple University.

Enron. I remember this notorious energy corporation back during my business school days.

I went back inside the bar. Ordered one last drink, ready to call it a night. Antonio won another prize.

“Would you like to come with me to Hollywood? It’s a Chinese Restaurant.” he said.

RESTAURANT!!!

In my mind, does he have any idea how that word sounded like to me?! Why in the world did he not utter that word earlier?!

“SURE!” I exclaimed without thinking!

Oh my! What have I just said! That was already a contract! No more turning back! Grrr! And I just met this guy! I have no idea who he is. He did tell me that he is a CPA, a professor at one of the well-known universities here. But what do I know. He could be… well.. you know, whatever! I have not done any background check! How could I? When my only goal for tonight was to get drunk! Hahaha! Ok. I was kidding.

BUT I WAS STARVING! DAMN IT!

“I’ll drive you back to you hotel, don’t worry.” he said comfortingly.

“Ah, ok!”, I said.

He drove me around the area of my hotel where I could find restaurants. Honestly, I have no idea what section of the city that was. But he kept on telling me that it was close.

We went around Montrose, the gay area. And Hollywood was there. The Chinese Restaurant.

Antonio (not his real name) was a friend of the owner. No wonder he invited me there. And there were several other customers there who knew him. He must be a frequent traveler here.

Antonio dropped me off at the hotel. I thought it was funny how things turned around.

“So, I see you tomorrow night?” he said.

“Sure!” I said.

It never happened.

I know… the bar was just next door.

There was a storm and the rain was just as bad.

I decided to hit my materials and study them from cover to cover instead.

I remember the quote: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

How shallow.

The food.

To be continued…

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