You decide to embark on that Light Rail Transit, (LRT) adventure you have postponed taking every time you get to Manila. You tell yourself, “It is now or never!” Besides, it is the logical thing to do that very minute, transport-wise. Afterall, you had wanted to discover how to get home the fastest, safest way from one spot of the city to another, like that route of SM-Marikina via LRT-Santolan Station to your desired destination. So ... you look around with trepidation. As you step into the station, you observe where all needing a ticket pass line up, and so you take your spot in the queue. Now that you have the coveted pass, you ask, “Where do I go next?” You spot the signage which tells you to head one floor up or down, and eureka … you get at the right train stop. You inquire from those around you that the train is really headed where you want to be … down Recto Station. Assured, you heave a sigh of relief. The train arrives, finally. It is, to your prejudiced surprise, clean and well-tended. With passengers settled, the train moves, but at several points, it makes a stop. After four more stops, it gets to your destination. No sweat. You get where you want to be, but then again, you push an idea and convince yourself, “Why don’t I try the connecting line closest to the bus station where I could catch a bus or a jeepney?” You follow your gut. You ask around for the connecting train ticket booth. You do not get a straight answer, but after a frustrating trek up and down, left, right forward and back, you get to at last pick up the ticket for the next ride, and then get in the correct line for your desired train stop. “Almost there!” you tell yourself. Shortly, the train arrives. It is a bit crowded when you get in; a gentleman fortunately offers his seat to you. You don’t have to stand all the way, afterall. “Almost there,” you cheer yourself, and true enough, after about twenty minutes, you get to the final stop, only to feel uneasy once you get off. You took the wrong turn out of the station! What a mess! The afternoon rains, as if on cue, poured in torrents while you are in the center of Baclaran Market stalls! “Horrors,” you quietly scream, but you couldn’t look scared because right and left, there might be dangerous souls lurking and could be at the ready to pounce on you. In a maze, you get frustratingly caught for a good half an hour until you spot a peace/safety officer. You tell him you must get to a transport station heading for Las Pinas City. He tells you the way out. You follow it down to the minutest detail. Finally, you spot the sky fresh from the afternoon rain. You get excited and relieved. Out from the maddening voices of sellers wanting you to buy what they’re peddling, you hear that familiar voice of a jeepney route bouncer calling for passengers headed every which way. You ask him for directions. He tells you to wait right at the spot you were standing for that specific jeep which will take you home. You stay put. At last, you see one jeep with a familiar signage, SM South Mall, Alabang. You flag it down, get on it, and get settled. You finally feel that peace you longed all the way. Strange and unfamiliar turns did inject fear throughout the adventure, but you conquered them all! You thank your God first, and then tell yourself once again, “You are one fortunate soul; you did well in spite of many twisted turns!”
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Turns
51 …
You decide to embark on that Light Rail Transit, (LRT) adventure you have postponed taking every time you get to Manila. You tell yourself, “It is now or never!” Besides, it is the logical thing to do that very minute, transport-wise. Afterall, you had wanted to discover how to get home the fastest, safest way from one spot of the city to another, like that route of SM-Marikina via LRT-Santolan Station to your desired destination. So ... you look around with trepidation. As you step into the station, you observe where all needing a ticket pass line up, and so you take your spot in the queue. Now that you have the coveted pass, you ask, “Where do I go next?” You spot the signage which tells you to head one floor up or down, and eureka … you get at the right train stop. You inquire from those around you that the train is really headed where you want to be … down Recto Station. Assured, you heave a sigh of relief. The train arrives, finally. It is, to your prejudiced surprise, clean and well-tended. With passengers settled, the train moves, but at several points, it makes a stop. After four more stops, it gets to your destination. No sweat. You get where you want to be, but then again, you push an idea and convince yourself, “Why don’t I try the connecting line closest to the bus station where I could catch a bus or a jeepney?” You follow your gut. You ask around for the connecting train ticket booth. You do not get a straight answer, but after a frustrating trek up and down, left, right forward and back, you get to at last pick up the ticket for the next ride, and then get in the correct line for your desired train stop. “Almost there!” you tell yourself. Shortly, the train arrives. It is a bit crowded when you get in; a gentleman fortunately offers his seat to you. You don’t have to stand all the way, afterall. “Almost there,” you cheer yourself, and true enough, after about twenty minutes, you get to the final stop, only to feel uneasy once you get off. You took the wrong turn out of the station! What a mess! The afternoon rains, as if on cue, poured in torrents while you are in the center of Baclaran Market stalls! “Horrors,” you quietly scream, but you couldn’t look scared because right and left, there might be dangerous souls lurking and could be at the ready to pounce on you. In a maze, you get frustratingly caught for a good half an hour until you spot a peace/safety officer. You tell him you must get to a transport station heading for Las Pinas City. He tells you the way out. You follow it down to the minutest detail. Finally, you spot the sky fresh from the afternoon rain. You get excited and relieved. Out from the maddening voices of sellers wanting you to buy what they’re peddling, you hear that familiar voice of a jeepney route bouncer calling for passengers headed every which way. You ask him for directions. He tells you to wait right at the spot you were standing for that specific jeep which will take you home. You stay put. At last, you see one jeep with a familiar signage, SM South Mall, Alabang. You flag it down, get on it, and get settled. You finally feel that peace you longed all the way. Strange and unfamiliar turns did inject fear throughout the adventure, but you conquered them all! You thank your God first, and then tell yourself once again, “You are one fortunate soul; you did well in spite of many twisted turns!”
You decide to embark on that Light Rail Transit, (LRT) adventure you have postponed taking every time you get to Manila. You tell yourself, “It is now or never!” Besides, it is the logical thing to do that very minute, transport-wise. Afterall, you had wanted to discover how to get home the fastest, safest way from one spot of the city to another, like that route of SM-Marikina via LRT-Santolan Station to your desired destination. So ... you look around with trepidation. As you step into the station, you observe where all needing a ticket pass line up, and so you take your spot in the queue. Now that you have the coveted pass, you ask, “Where do I go next?” You spot the signage which tells you to head one floor up or down, and eureka … you get at the right train stop. You inquire from those around you that the train is really headed where you want to be … down Recto Station. Assured, you heave a sigh of relief. The train arrives, finally. It is, to your prejudiced surprise, clean and well-tended. With passengers settled, the train moves, but at several points, it makes a stop. After four more stops, it gets to your destination. No sweat. You get where you want to be, but then again, you push an idea and convince yourself, “Why don’t I try the connecting line closest to the bus station where I could catch a bus or a jeepney?” You follow your gut. You ask around for the connecting train ticket booth. You do not get a straight answer, but after a frustrating trek up and down, left, right forward and back, you get to at last pick up the ticket for the next ride, and then get in the correct line for your desired train stop. “Almost there!” you tell yourself. Shortly, the train arrives. It is a bit crowded when you get in; a gentleman fortunately offers his seat to you. You don’t have to stand all the way, afterall. “Almost there,” you cheer yourself, and true enough, after about twenty minutes, you get to the final stop, only to feel uneasy once you get off. You took the wrong turn out of the station! What a mess! The afternoon rains, as if on cue, poured in torrents while you are in the center of Baclaran Market stalls! “Horrors,” you quietly scream, but you couldn’t look scared because right and left, there might be dangerous souls lurking and could be at the ready to pounce on you. In a maze, you get frustratingly caught for a good half an hour until you spot a peace/safety officer. You tell him you must get to a transport station heading for Las Pinas City. He tells you the way out. You follow it down to the minutest detail. Finally, you spot the sky fresh from the afternoon rain. You get excited and relieved. Out from the maddening voices of sellers wanting you to buy what they’re peddling, you hear that familiar voice of a jeepney route bouncer calling for passengers headed every which way. You ask him for directions. He tells you to wait right at the spot you were standing for that specific jeep which will take you home. You stay put. At last, you see one jeep with a familiar signage, SM South Mall, Alabang. You flag it down, get on it, and get settled. You finally feel that peace you longed all the way. Strange and unfamiliar turns did inject fear throughout the adventure, but you conquered them all! You thank your God first, and then tell yourself once again, “You are one fortunate soul; you did well in spite of many twisted turns!”
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