Traffic Woes

If I had the time to update this last night, it would be a super grumpy email ;{ Perhaps it would still be but it is definitely with less "steam" than last night... However, God's hands have moved and things may come to a better - in fact, much much better outcome :) Thus, I am in a more lighthearted mood as I write about yet another hair-tearing experience of my commuting in Dubai.

Each time the off-work hour is nearing, I would experience a mixture of feelings. The upside is that I could go back to unwind from work. However, the downside is the uncertainty of what kind of traffic madness I would be facing for the day......

I often hear people here say that without a car, it's very inconvenient. Having taken buses and taxis, I thought their words were just unjustifiable expressions from being too pampered by private transportation. I was proven wrong, as I began to take public transport on a daily basis - during peak hours. That made all the difference :s

So far, I had 2 very extreme experiences of feeling angry and upset to the point of almost tears!! The first time was when I could not board the bus, even after I had waited for the second bus to arrive (both the first bus and second bus were full). Attempts to hail a taxi were almost fruitless, as taxis stopped for others who suddenly appeared out of nowhere ahead of me. Otherwise, the numerous taxis that passed me by were occupied, if not, the driver chose not to stop. It was after more than half an hour before I managed to get into a taxi. By then, I had became so tired that I cancelled going to my original destination and headed back instead.

The other experience was even worse! It was 2 persons' anguish this time. Hubby and I called for a taxi to go the airport. We had called for the taxi in advance but waited in vain for more than 1 hour. Repeated calls were equally helpless. Hubby even walked out 20 minutes to the main road to hail for a taxi but to no avail. We were super worried that we might miss our fight! Thank God that a taxi responded to our call after more than an hour. His question of whether we could pay the road toil for him to quickly come over to us, was no longer worth asking. That tiny amount is nothing compared to missing a flight! For 2 persons!! I recalled that even after reaching the airport and knowing that we had ample time, hubby and I were still anxious. That was so stressful! It was after we had sat down and finished our meal then we started to "recover". What a less-than-desired "adventure"!

Apart from unreliable taxi reservation service, the taxi drivers here is another challenge. I thank God that not all are bad but just a few is enough to make your day bad. Had enough of taxi drivers being rude so I had learnt to behave beyond assertive to aggressive towards rude drivers. This is also another uncertainty: whether you end up returning in a pleasant or stress-filled journey.

For my journey from work back to my place, I usually take a taxi after my company bus alight me at a busy bus stop. Public buses are usually a disappointment so I had kind of given up. Taking a taxi saves me much more time; the extra spent on the fare is definitely worthwhile. It's not just time but physical energy spent walking back half an hour from the bus stop nearest to my place if I were to take the public bus, after its long winding road journey (and transfer of bus).

In returning back, though I needed to walk a bit to get to the spot where taxis are more likely to stop, it was not an issue. The road crossings were however not pedestrians-friendly and in fact are quite dangerous for those who were not as cautious or slow. The spot I eventually reached to wait for taxis is a hotspot. "Competitors" rally around the taxi whenever one care to stop. The driver thus has the advantage to choose his passenger...... I had ever taken one taxi when 2 other men desperately requested for car pooling. The driver was nice enough to ask if I am ok with the arrangement. Seeing that the 2 men were dressed in suits and seemed decent, I agreed. After all, their destination was along my way (they were even willing to accomodate with my preference, if any!). Later, I learnt that these 2 men had actually taken a bus from another more "remote" bus stop to that particular hotspot to take a taxi! I am not the only helpless victim of the transport system here after all.

A few days ago, I experienced another blow which finally pushed me to the edge. Enough. I shall for sure take up driving lessons, regardless of how much stricter the passing standards may have risen. That day, my company transport was late in picking the staff off work. 2 colleagues told me that I could board the other bus, since it would be passing by my dropoff spot. I checked with the driver and he readily agreed. So did one more staff who usually takes that bus back. Later, I realised that 3 extra staff (including me) boarded the bus. It was ample for all to sit but certainly not as cosy as before. All of us joked along the way and had fun. However, towards the end of my journey, a colleague whom I deem close told me that I should "stick to my (designated) bus"; she was of the view that all who are designated to whichever bus should follow the bus "in good times or bad times" i.e. even if the bus is late, you should jolly wait. I was very taken aback by her remarks but held my cool. If I had known that my boarding of that bus would cause such great inconvenience, I certainly would not have board it. That kind of in-your-face feedback that you are an unwelcome extra is really yucky. It wasn't bad to the extent that all of us were sitting shoulder to shoulder. I find it hard to understand the rationale, since such occasions are only exceptional. Why the need to be so "possessive" and so unwilling to share?

With that, I pray that my days of facing such stress on returning from work during peak hours could end soon. Hubby and I initially decided to rent a car (buying one is a problem currently due to some administrative issues). However, it seems that God has open up a better option...... We have committed that to Him and anticipate to see how things develop.

Stay tuned :)