As some of you might be aware, I’m still new to this whole commuting thing, so pretty much every day out there on the roads without my own vehicle is an adventure in itself. I’ve been loving the independence commuting gives me.
However, when it rains, I either get marooned somewhere or have to risk getting wet. Two weeks ago, I was asked to cover a noon class in Greenhills. At 11am, I was going to drive there from Quezon City. Normally the trip would take me 30 minutes when traveling by car. It was, however, not a normal day; the roads were flooded and after 30 minutes and I was still stuck near Quezon Avenue, I had to do something radical.
I ditched the car (actually, just parked it on a side street), ran to Quezon Avenue Station, hopped onto a train and got off at Santolan-Annapolis. From there, I ran the full few kilometers to the Fitness First branch in Greenhills and arrived only three minutes past time. I’d called ahead, so the students and reception staff knew why I was late. A light drizzle sprinkled me after class as I walked back to the station, but it was pouring in earnest by the time I got back to Quezon Avenue, and I got drenched running back to my car from the station.
Most of the time, however, I’ve been blessed with good timing. It rains when I’m already in a station or train, and isn’t raining when I get to my destination.
I was pretty proud of myself the other week too. I was dropping a friend off at North Avenue Station when I decided on the spur of the moment to commute to Makati to pick up my RCBC ATM card from the Fitness First support office (so I could withdraw my salary). While I was there, I was asked to team-teach at the Fitness First branch in Fort Bonifacio (another spur-of-the-moment decision). I took a taxi there, taught, then bummed a ride with my fellow instructor to Boni Station where I took a ride back to North Avenue. That whole thing, no incidents. Not bad, eh?
I’m still leery about taking buses, jeepneys, or FX taxis simply because I have no idea where their respective routes take them. But I’m going to have to learn… eventually.
Anyone up for a commute with me?
Tags: Commuting
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Congratulations for proving Papa wrong on the commute-and-you-will-die notion he’s had since forever.
Don’t forget your handy can of pepper spray, though. =P@ mari_elle – Then I should’ve been dead a long time ago! 🙁
hmmm… this sounds interesting. where did you leave your car before hopping onto the mrt at north ave? i have a similar route, although i only have to travel as far as ortigas station.
I park my car at TriNoma because it still has flat-rate parking at 30 pesos at the covered parking building, and 25 pesos at the open parking (facing SM North EDSA).
ahh.. yes! that bit where you said “just parked it on a side street” confused me. i was trying to figure out which side street was that. lol.i could try that one tomorrow. would you know what time the trinoma/sm parking lot open?
the joy of commuting .cool one… btw nice layout 🙂
Ralphot: The “side street” I referred to is the one beside McDonald’s on the corner of Quezon Avenue and EDSA. I’m not sure parking there is legal though. I probably got away with it because my car was there only for two hours and it was raining at the time.TriNoma and SM open parking are available by 6am. Covered parking at SM is available by 9am at Cyberzone and by 6am at the former SuperSaleClub building.
wow i wanna get a car, but i realize yeah i gotta get ready for things like this
True, always have pepper spray handy! I’m OK with riding buses provided they’re southbound, or at least dropping everyone off in Baclaran. Jeepneys around Makati, that I can muster. But FX taxis… only when they’re southbound, too. Then again, I’m always paranoid. Good luck with your public transportation misadventures!
Hey! I just realized that I see you at Fitness Ortigas on Wednesday (or is it Thursday?) nights. =P hehe! I know how you feel! I was so proud of myself when I finally learnt how to commute after moving back to Manila. =P It wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be, and I actually enjoyed it, most of the time. =P …BUT, on rainy days, I’m glad I have the comfort of driving a car now. I just hate getting soaked in the rain! hehe!
alohapenny: We can’t always have the car, and in this city sometimes commuting via rail is faster!xiaoyubeh: Since my work takes me all over the place, I usually have to go north AND south in the same day.anna: It’s probably Thursday nights since I usually attend Joseph’s 8:30pm BodyJam class. 🙂
Commuting saves you lots of time and hassle for parking spots and traffic tickets.