Bags...Bags...Bags

In the last year I've spent a good bit of time standing around the baggage claim areas in different airports.

I've watched bags go by and have wondered about the stories they could tell.

I'm always curious about who will reach out and grab the bag as it passes by.

Where have they been?
Where are they going?
Are they going on some fun adventure?
Or do they have to take care of some hard, sad affair?

When I see some nice, fancy, newish looking luggage I wonder if it's been purchased for a once-in-a-lifetime type of trip or if it's merely a replacement for one that's used every week on one business trip or another.

And then there's my bag... my army green-ish wheeled carry on with red trim, easily identifiable with my bright yellow luggage tag. On it a cartoon-looking frog, sticking out its bright pink tongue. I look and wonder what stories people might imagine of me and my travels.

Returning from BKK to MNL I again was watching as luggage was being claimed when I saw something really different. It was a thin, plastic, circle, zippered pouch. It kind of reminded me of one of the sun shades for windshield windows.

A guy swiftly picked it up and put it on his buddy's cart along with a big, black plastic bin.
Hmmm... curious. I wondered what it was. Thankfully, a little girl was more curious and more brave than I. She asked the guys what was in the bag. A wheel was their answer.

Huh.

Turns out the two guys were from the Netherlands and were in Manila to join a cycling race.

Huh. So THAT is how you transport a bike overseas. Interesting.

Oh the countless stories that are likely spinning around on the baggage claim carousel...