My current attack of web diligence and enthusiasm will probably come to a halt soon, since I have to go off on another trip before the end of May. It’s only a local trip, but it might need a lot of preparation, and will definitely wind up exhausting me. Good thing we’re getting a two-day extension as a mini-vacation of sorts. It most likely will not be enough, as I will be spending the whole week running after (or being chased by) guests, speakers, hosts, and everyone else in a bi-annual event that our bureau organizes.

All my design projects, artwork, and writing will have to be put on hold. Then again, every time I make an announcement like this, I wind up staying up all night long and actually doing them.

But it will be nice to be on the road again. Last year I practically lived in airplanes and spent half the time trying not to throw up that fish and pasta thing all airlines seem to serve, but this will be my first trip for this year. I really do love traveling and, unlike most people, I sincerely believe the saying that “half the fun is in getting there.” Sometimes it’s hard to remember that when I’ve been locked up in a plane for over 14 hours, dying for a breath of fresh air, but I wouldn’t mind a six-hour trip or so. I don’t even hate traffic jams! Except when I’m late for something — rare unless I’m intentionally so, in which case I would even be thankful for the traffic.

Travel time, when I’m halfway between being here and there, is the perfect time. Since I’m kind of suspended, in a temporal or spatial limbo, so to speak, I can let my thoughts roam to wherever and whatever. Traveling alone is even better. I adore plane rides in the middle of the night, when everything’s quiet, and everyone is in a contemplative mood (or are just plain asleep).

Traveling solo can also be a revelation. My first trip to France, which only lasted two weeks, was one I went on alone. It was kind of scary, considering I barely knew the language and I knew no one, but it went extremely well and I made new friends. I doubt it could have been as much fun had I been with other people. Also, after that, a lot of things seem easy in comparison. It really helped boost my confidence.

Yesterday, I finally obtained my long-awaited copy of The World Ends With You — SquareEnix’s latest foray into the world of Nintendo DS. Although apparently, I was the only one waiting for it in this city, as the guy in the store had no clue about it when I asked if it had already come in. Obviously, it isn’t a question much-asked.

Anyway, Squeenix would have us believe that their latest game isn’t Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, or Dragon Quest. WEWY introduces us to the anti-social, close-mouthed fifteen-year-old Neku, of the wild and emo hair. Neku doesn’t like talking to people. Well, he doesn’t like people in general. He also has amnesia.

So, clearly, SquareEnix was lying. Neku’s partner, Shiki, even fights with Cait Sith a black cat!

Well, all that aside, WEWY certainly has interesting gameplay, even though it seems needlessly complex. Half the time, I don’t even understand how I manage to get A ranks in some fights and E ranks in others when all I do ALL the time is scratch the DS screen wildly.

See, Neku fights using pins, and the pins are controlled by moving the stylus over the screen either by dragging or tapping in various directions and speeds. Since it’s kind of hard to control both those things when the enemies are moving around, I just swish the stylus around and let whatever pin respond.

I might eventually get used to it. We’ll see. I have to agree with reviews and say that the game’s controls are revolutionary. The game lets you control Neku via the touch screen and Shiki via the buttons at the same time. Ambidexterity can sure come in handy!