One of my favorite things in traveling is the airport scene. I am always fascinated with airports. Weird but I like the feeling of being inside the airport and watch fellow travelers as they depart or arrive from the world over.

I like the sound of airplanes touching down or taking off the runway. I don't mind loafing around an airport for a couple or more hours' of stopover. I take pleasure in walking and hauling my baggage cart as I explore the ins and outs of the place - from their restrooms, internet cafès, waiting lounges, coffee and duty free shops. It's like having a peek of what's outside those humongous walls.

When I'm inside an airport I can't help but watch people. Departure and arrival terminals stand witness to a variety of human emotions. You can basically make-out why and where they're going based on the look on their faces. And regardless of which terminal you're headed....it's almost always the same things that you see. Eager faces embarking on a holiday; somber faces of goodbyes; the welcoming and euphoric hugs of hellos; those faces stamped with question marks as they embark on an ambigous flight - not knowing when they'd be back or even the plain impassive look of anonymous travelers.  

I've had an arrival just today. An aunt came home after years of not coming back to attend my cousin's wedding next month. It's good to see her again...even for just a few weeks.

Then a dear friend is flying off in a couple of weeks' time - for good. There's this undeniable sadness to see her off....but somehow, we know we'll see each other again somewhere, sometime.

And I'm having a hell lot of thinking these days. That there may come a time that I'll be stepping inside an airport plagued with mixed-emos. For I may be walking around with eagerness and doubt as I board a flight....knowing that it'll take years to come back....or not knowing when to.

Just a considerably serious thought.