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 :)

Another Taxi Journey

This posting is a mixture of whiny and perhaps puzzling one... cos it started off bad but ended off well, I guess.

For the background, I ended up taking a taxi back today because of the maddening traffic condition here during peak hours. The day before, I had my first experience taking the company bus during peak hours. Aarrghh... the 45 minute turtle-style jam along Sheikh Zayed Road (notwithstanding its 7 lanes!) was so frustrating! Plus the fact that my body was on "low cell", I almost throw up! Thank God for the sweets I had. After alighting, it took me another 15 minutes for a cab to stop (some cabs 'consider' passengers on destination basis). By the time I reached home, I was truly peng-shan.

Thus, today I decided against taking the company bus and instead try out an alternate way. My original plan was to take a public bus (gotta walk out for about 20 minutes) then transfer to a cab (no buses come into the 'deep' end where I stay). *Sigh* I saw my bus passed me by again (it had happened for the previous 2 times). This time round as I walked on, I realised the bus stop seemed to have moved! Funny thing is that here, not every bus stop has a distinctive bus stop sign. I recalled previously, I realised that a particular spot was the bus stop only after I stopped to ask a person (who was at that spot waiting for the bus).

How do I know for sure that the bus stop has moved? Cos' I recalled taking photos at the bus stop, where I would not have gone past the twin towers! Where is the familar make-shift seats and site office? Would I be waiting at the correct place if I just anyhow 'park' myself there?

When a cab was passing by, I swiftly waved my hand for it. Rather not risk walking to nowhere and having to wait in vain for more than half an hour, especially when it's turning dark.

Into the cab I went... I had learnt to talk to taxi drivers here more assertively, even aggressively when necessary... I recalled scolding a downright rude taxi driver (one of the 2 drivers whom I had scolded). I cannot take it when his misunderstanding of my words and his own impatience gave way to rudeness and repeated scolding. Hello?! I don't owe you any favors because I sit in a car driven by you! I pay for your service and I am your boss! Which employee scold the boss and get away with it? Of course those were not my exact words to the driver. I told that rude driver off repeatedly that he was rude and questioned why he was treating customers in that manner. At the end of that journey after I had paid the fare, he returned me the change with a more respectful "Thank You".

For this driver, I thought the manner he replied "Ok" was unyielding, after I told him my destination and the directions i.e. which (jam) road to avoid. Inside me, I was thinking this better not be another egoistic driver who cannot receive instructions. I was not rude or commanding in my tone.

Later, this driver put on earphones. I wondered how he would be able to listen to my instructions when I needed to tell him where to turn. The music that blasted out from his earphones are typical Indian or local music, or maybe Pakistan. Maybe I should be thankful that this driver did not blast the entire taxi with such music but exercised some consideration...

As the driver drove past the narrow and construction-ladden road, we witnessed some labourers arguing loudly - in the middle of the narrow roads near traffic barricades. The driver actually laughed and commented "Fighting!" God knows what he was thinking!

I asked the driver if Jumeirah roads would be jam at this hour. He replied "Everywhere jam" (at this hour). How I wish he could be more encouraging. Later, he said "too many Chinese" which I interpretated as his stated reason for the heavy traffic (hope I was wrong). I wondered what the driver really meant! I told him I had seen more Fillipinos and Indians here than Chinese. I added that the traffic was bad here probably due to the high number of cars.

I took the opportunity to ask him if he could hear me if I were to give him road directions, since he was listening to his earphones. He replied affirmatively "No problem" and added that I could tap his shoulder, as he demostrated to me by tapping his own rather forcifully.

At the end of the journey, he actually thanked me and wished me good night. Am glad that the journey back today was a pleasant one and the driver was not annoying. Ha!

Gone Too Soon......

I know the title might remind you of a song sung by MJ but it echoes how yours truly feel about the 2 weeks away from Dubai and back home.

Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. It was almost plain crazy in terms of busyness back to Singapore. Catching up with friends, running errands, busy with sis-in-law's wedding, sorting and packing stuff to be brought to Dubai. Am glad that hubby and I had less madness and more time to ourselves when we dropped by KL Midvalley for 2 days before returning to Dubai.

Some friends, regrettably, I do have the luxury of time to catch up with. Thankfully, I have been blessed to bump into some friends along the streets! 3 to be specific! Haha! Praise God!

A friend was amazed (or should I say shocked?) to see my list of to-dos. Hubby mentioned about me who had everything planned out during our return trip. Well, this may sounds a bit exaggerating; the list run into 3 pages. Most of it was what to take to bring to Dubai...

That's the difference between me and hubby. He is a "free-spirit" kinda personality while I am a planner and pragmatic person.

We gotta makan the familiar fabulous food of Singapore! Soya bean curb, fish soup mee suan, cha siew, dim sum, hokkien mee, indian food, buffalo wings, chu qian yi ding nissin instant noodles, and of course, mom's homemade soup! :p Pity that I did not get to eat the famous fish soup bee hoon at Holland V. Hubby did not get to eat the ayam penyat at Changi V but he was not as die-hard for it though... strangely... Very regrettably, I missed eating the tau sa pia which I had specifically asked hubby to get it when he passed by Balestier. By the time I was ready to eat it i.e. the evening of the 2nd day the pia was bought back home (hubby bought 20, i tink), none was left!!!

Mom complained that I didn't spent much time at home. Well, guess it's typical of me (she used to say of me "roaming the streets constantly" in Cantonese; guessed I can't fully explain the essence unless you understand what "lan gai" means in Cantonese!). Earlier, hubby and i have thought of staying in a chalet when back, since it might be quite packed staying in either parents' places. However, we eventually decided to stay with parents, since it makes more sense (after all, we are back to spend more time together), besides the economical reasons. Looking back, if we had stayed in chalets, that meant we would have spent even lesser time with our families!

Prior to coming back, I have made brief mention to siblings of having a family dinner together (we had it during parents' birthdays or CNY). However, it slipped through the cracks and no mention or follow up was brought up. After I left, mom told me that she had bought more food for the dinner gatherings. Huh? Ok, next round of return, I must be more thick-skinned in getting everyone back for dinner!

Nevertheless, I think when it comes to moms, it is never enough time. To think that I actually spent 2/3 of my return staying with my parents (versus staying with my in-law)! Well, what to do? Now, I can only hope time will pass abundantly and quickly, for my next return back to Singapore. God only knows when it would be for next year!