South Station Scene

Saw this last night at Alabang South Station, I came from a friend's house in Muntinlupa then commuted back home. I was amazed upon seeing this scene as the bus parked to gather passengers at the station.

What are these? These are birds, I think these are maya birds (commonly scene birds in the metro) sleeping in those wires. I was so amazed, I took a shot even if it was dangerous to do it, due to the rate of robbery in this place (well, in my own observation at least). 

Anyway, it was nice to see all of them sleeping peacefully in one place. The people were kinda used to them. Or they just didn't noticed. I wish there were more trees though, so that they won't be risking their lives sleeping in such a place.

Life oh well.

Who reads hardbound books on MRT?

Yes, I do.

I dunno what was I thinking, I wanted to finish this book so fast and it's so interesting to read. I realized just now that these are my kind of books.

As I have mentioned before, I am into humor/comedy memoir books. Well, this one is an interesting read and I could not help myself but bring this one into my long commute and read it while waiting to arrive on my destination.

I don't mind it being heavy, or being bulky really. I just realized, that when I am standing up and the trains are jampacked and I am reading this book, that I am hurting other people (you know the edges and it is hard bound after all) when the train brakes or takes a turn. I am funny sometimes, I don't realize it until I go down the train or until I leave the station.

Oh well. Sorry people.

Hardbound book by Jenny Lawson - highly recommended to kill time 

Waiting

Bored, tired and out of my wits. I took some photos of me while waiting for my flight to neverland. 

My tipid meal

Waiting and working

They were talking so I took a picture

Get me out of here I am bored 

Holiday Roads

I don't know where everyone went, but I love the traffic situation of the metro during the holidays. I rarely take vacation leaves because of this.

Took the picture below earlier before going for my year end run. I looove the sight. I know on wednesday, it will be back to chaos again. But, that's part of living the city life, I have accepted it, we all just have to adapt.

Anyway, I wish you all a Happy New Year! Like the traffic below, I wish for everyone to have a free flowing peace of mind and more reasons to celebrate everyday. Cheeeerrsss!!

Diva-Soria

Just woke up from my 8hr slumber, and this is because I slept late and I came from Divisoria yesterday.

People have warned me about going here in this time of the year. I also know this by experience because I also went here before on the same time but I think there were less people (by about 10%). But I came because I want to experience it again! (kuhrayzee idea Abi)

I went around lunchtime. I ate my lunch at Baliwag resto at Morayta so that we will have the energy to walk around. Then started walking to Recto ave to ride a jeep. This jeep no longer went on to Tutuban mall due to traffic, so, started walking from then on. (We, meaning me and my cousin Ritzel Anne, who is also a fan of great deals aka "mura")

My target mall was the Divisoria Mall since I would be buying everything in whole sale and I love how low prices would get there. The mall is actually far from the jeepney drop-off site, it's about a kilometer away. Plus, you have to conquer this sea of people (see picture below). Literally sea because the streets are already made up of people making their way to their respective destinations. Of course, this is the time to not to be all "maarte-ish"and kept walking. I know this will happen, and if I were being maarte enough I should go to the mall instead, where it's more comfortable and less people.

Divisoria Scene during christmas time. Credits to Langyaw.com for this. 

We went on. We were laughing with the people, especially the whiners. Don't visit Divisoria if you're claustrophobic, sensitive and weak, this is not the place for you. People you would encounter here would usually compose of shoppers, hardworking laborers, passersby and robbers. Yes, Robbers, in this time of the year, they also know that people have a lot to spare, so you should mind your belongings. I brought a small sling bag so I can easily watch my things and it is easier to maneuver around. 

It's funny how small this world could get, as we were steps away from our final destination, I saw two office mates compressed along this sea of people and I greeted them with glee. I love that I saw them, I love seeing people I know in an impossible place. 

We shopped inside the Divisoria mall, for me, this is the place to be. As I said earlier, you can get wholesale prices here. In my own opinion, all that is sold outside came inside this mall. We went around 'till my pockets run empty. 

I forgot that we're both girls and forgot about our capacities. Total weight of all that we shopped is almost 10kgs and we would have to walk 1km to ride a jeepney. It was a very dumb decision. We went back, mustered the people, distance and the weight of the things we shopped. 

After getting that seat on the jeep, I felt relieved. My back and arms hurt. And I still have to travel everything from Manila to Quezon City. I would like to just leave it but I was already excited to wrap gifts that time so I just imagined myself home with all the things we bought and I was about to wrap them. I am always excited to wrap gifts. So, I made it my motivation and went on. 

Now, as I seat here in front of my computer. I declare myself as a Diva-soria. Bravering the streets of Divisoria, even with its given situation, knowing where to shop to get the greatest deals, and loving the experience even if it was the most inconvenient one. I already wrapped my gifts and I would like to return next year! For more gifts! :) 

MRT Scenes

This is a clip from Bubble Gang's (Gag show shown here in the Philippines) November 23, 2012 episode. For me, this pretty much shows how it is to ride the dreaded MRT - Edsa - which I happen to ride almost everyday. If you do understand Tagalog, you get to understand the jokes which  I now laugh about. 

If you finished watching it, I would like to know which kind of MRT passenger could you relate to? My own answer is the stunt man. Usually I get to the area where all the posts/handrails have been occupied by other riders and I have no choice but to do stunts just to make sure that my face won't be meeting the MRT floor. Nyehehe. 

And yes, even though sometimes it sucks, I guess this is far better than some other countries. I hereby declare - MRT Rides, it's more fun in the Philippines. ^_^

Pang-aliw

Since I travel around 2 hrs just to get home, I manage to get myself occupied by using my favorite toy, Abivee.

Abivee is my iPhone, I love tweaking everything on it. At the start of having this, I would read tweets and check FB of people. But it got boring and I also needed a break from all the people so, I used it's other functionalities.

1. Internet - main reason why I got this phone. Almost everything is connected to it, since I was on twitter break I started reading and making blogs, research on runs, people, traffic, news, health, etc. Pocket, one of my favorite apps, keeps all of the articles I have tagged as to-read-later. So cool, I get to read them in the middle of the commute. I am actually making this blog inside a train. I just can't contain the idea.

2. Multimedia - still connected to the internet but I needed to isolate this one. In the middle of traffic, I get to watch my favorite youtube videos and also some of the series I've been waitin' on. I also get to listen on the radio when at work. Yeah lovin the technology here!

3. Games - I admit, there's a part of me that wants to be a gamer but I suck at nonRPG/adventure games. I don't say that I am good at those two games mentioned but I love how it makes my head going. It just makes me wanna play some more. Of course, a little competition is good it drives me nuts (in a good way people!)

4. Camera - obviously, I love taking pictures and having a handy dandy camera just makes it all easy to keep the memories. I love making memories by taking pictures. And one of the things I loved in using Abivee is that it shoots beautifully. I love the quality and the sharpness, I could even post process using iPhone apps.

5. Functionality/Utility Apps - speaking of apps, I love how I can do different things with the phone while on commute. I could use the maps to locate places, I can check on movie skeds on an another app, Or when I am losing something I can use the flashlight app.

Am I just crazy for my phone or what? Haha. But please note that it is not safe to just get this gadget out in the open, for me, I just make sure I am somewhere safe (safe - meaning there is a low probability of having my thing being stolen). Here are my guides where I mostly use my phone:

1. Fx - usually I use it out in the open if I rode it coming from a station. I would use it once inside the vehicle.

2. Train - I ride the safest (again, refer to my definition of safe above) part of the train, the woman's coach. So, if ever someone wants to get it on that area, likelihood that I am stronger than most passengers there is verry high. (Yabang lang haha)

3. Bus - this is the unsafe among the three given the passengers on it. I would normally use the phone if I am riding the aircon bus - and I am at the back and no one seems suspicious. (Suspicious meaning people giving the creepy looks, always standing near to the doorin the middle of the bus even if there's available seats, and the likes)

Of course, it's better not to take it out. I just couldn't help myself (can you guess that I am a hard headed lady already? Teehee!) sometimes it's really really boring just looking outside waiting for the vehicle to get to your destination. Just remember to be always safe. It pays to be safe! :)