my fort bus adventure

being a quezon city girl and newly-minted makati girl, i don't usually spend a lot of time in BGC or The Fort, as it was called before. but two days ago, i had to go to The Fort because i was presenting my project to my classmates in our Ateneo Digiwiki class. (if any of you classmates are reading this, hello!)

those who know me, know that i hate to drive. rickymartin (my car) is a great car but i just have no stomach for driving. anyway, so i decide, hey, why don't i just ride the Fort bus? ok, so that didn't turn out as one of my best ideas to date, but it's not all bad:

surprisingly, the Fort bus stops are evenly spaced around BGC. that one is quite good, it's all very civilized, everyone queueing.

the kunduktor (bus conductor) already collects money from those in the line and gives change, so no more scrambling around in the bottomless pit that's my bag for loose change. he also is a great person to ask about the bus route, which as it turns out, is like a snake, winding through the beautifully cemented streets.

the wait though is quite long, because i was riding the bus that would bring me to EDSA, demand was high (it was around 6:30pm). the waiting shed is makeshift though, a tent with tarp on top so that you won't get wet, if it rained.

i was able to sit at the very back of the bus, and i noticed my busmates, all in suits, with ears plugged with ipods or iphones. very high end for a bus. the guy beside me was playing on his iphone 4.

i think that everything is bearable, until i get to the end of Mc Kinley, time to get off the bus! i wasn't prepared for the sheer number of people lining up to get back inside BGC, and at the other end of the street, people lined up to go into makati.

If i wanted to get back to Makati fast, i should walk and cross the overpass on EDSA. not to make any excuses, i was tired, my laptop is heavy so i decide to queue for a taxi. It took me a long time to get a taxi but i was able to get back.

All-in-all, i was able to get from The Fort to Greenbelt in an hour and 15 minutes.

i know that the bus has made BGC somewhat more accessible, but i think if they really want to succeed as a hub for business, transportation should be made more available.

as i write this, i remember a friend of mine who lived in Forbes before. He would walk from our office in Ayala, all the way home. Ok, so i should not complain na noh?

i leave you with Adele, Chasing Pavements. Purrfect for a pedestrian like moi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBmwdlBFs1s