JUST A THOUGHT: “To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” –- Danny Kaye
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THAT LATIN CHARM: A certain mystique surrounds the countries that make up South America, also known to some as Latin America.
The predominantly Spanish-Portuguese speaking continent is relatively strange to us in this part of Asia, although we share a common history under Spain. Perhaps, it is the long distance between us (they look at us as the Far East) that makes it impossible for us to truly experience South America.
Thank God, there’s cinema-- and Netflix--- that helps us understand and appreciate the rich culture of this mostly unexplored part of the world, at least in the eyes of Filipino travelers.
Latin America consists of more than 20 nations: Mexico in North America; Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in Central America; Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, French Guiana, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in South America; Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.
Some of these countries have active movie-TV industries. Others are better known for their beauty pageants.
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VIA SOUTH AMERICA: My travels by remote control continues, this time, under Modified Extended Community Quarantine (MECQ).
“Amor no Diva” (Couples Counselling) brought me to the heart of Brazil one late evening, the story of married couples trying to work out their marriages with the help of a counsellor, who herself faces marital problems.
“Rich in Love,” also from Brazil, allows a free trip to the sprawling tomato farms in the countryside and their wonderful vistas. A comedy of errors, it tells the story of a rich teenaged boy who pretends to be poor just to find out who among the people he meets, especially a girl he fancies, are true to him.
It was the same ambience felt throughout the film, “The Lost Brother.” It took me to the rural scenes in Argentina, the northern part, heading towards Brazil.
“The Lost Brother” is about a corrupt insurance broker who victimizes claimants of insurance benefits but who meets his match in a stranger.
Another Argentinian film, the father-and-son drama, “Temporada de Caza,” went even further, up a mountain town full of snow in winter.
“Una Espicie de Familia” (A Sort of Family), the story of a woman doctor trying to adopt a newborn baby, is also set in rural Argentina, showing off its lush landscape.
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“WHY, YES, BANGLADESH:” Not to be bypassed is Asia, exotic, wicked and wonderful.
The inner and side streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh are a nightmare to the uninitiated, littered with slum dwellers, just like some sections of you know where.
They served as backdrop of the action-packed, drugs-infested film, “Extraction,” starring Chris Helmsworth.
Turkey remains on my bucket list of travel destinations, but thanks to the films “Sadece Sen” and “My Travel Buddy,” I was offered a front-row seat to this mysterious country that combines Asia and Europe in one fell swoop.
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DARK ALLEYS: There’s also “Prison Break,” whose full 5 seasons I finished, keeping me awake till way past midnight for its non-stop action and cliffhanger cuts.
The series took me on a side trip to Yemen, though it could be Morocco, as shown in the credits.
“Narcos” exposed me to the dark alleys and innards of Mexico, one country I feel a certain affiliation with, for obvious cultural and historical reasons.
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LOOKING FORWARD: And so each night, after dinner, travelling to distant shores has become my nightly habit. It keeps me busy, well informed, and yes, well travelled, too.
I am thankful there’s this option left for people like me to explore, given the present circumstances. The experience, a special treat, really, gives me something to look forward to at the end of another day of being homebound for more than 150 days.