THE smell of cooked peanuts, the murmur of passersby, the honking of the jeep, and the sound of a city cleaner sweeping the road. It is evening but the the stretch of J. P. Laurel Avenue is busy.
I was on my way home from work. I would usually take the shorter route home but opted to take the longer route this time via J.P. Laurel. I enjoy taking walks, especially if the places I have to be are near.
For the last six years, I have been walking home when it is not raining or when I am just near my place. It is the only time when I can do something “active” after sitting for long hours at the office. These walks allow me to de-stress and at the same time think about things that are not work related.
Aside from the physical and mental health benefits, I enjoy observing my surroundings. I find it fascinating to encounter Dabawenyos of all walks of life - from the vendor selling the peanuts to the sweeper regularly keeping the area clean to students discussing their projects, to the young professionals hoping to get a ride home.
I may be wearing earphones but the music is off. I am carefully listening to my surroundings -- the laughters from friends cracking a joke, the murmurs of a couple by a wall, cars stopping, and people talking on their phones.
At the same time, I keep my eyes open of what was happening around me -- a bunch of kids leaving used plastic cups near the pedestrian crossing, a young man selling vegetables to passersby, and workers enjoying a bite of kwek-kwek.
One thing I did observe is it is hard to grab a ride home early in the evening in Davao City. Commuters can barely get a ride on jeepneys or taxi.
One night, I happen to pass by the carnival along J.P. Laurel. Paid P20 to get in just to observe. It was a quiet night when I went to the carnival. Looking at the rides I told myself, “You must be brave to get on one of those.” The sight of those rides are scary not because it is scary ride but you would question your safety when you ride it.
It is fun walking around town. It is fascinating to see the different things happening around me, encounter people from different walks of life, and listen to the different sounds.