Paying the Price of Yearning to be Home...

Journal of a Weekend Traveler… I wrote this last Saturday and was posted on Facebook.

Typhoon Santi is raging Manila and nearby provinces since yesterday with not so heavy rains but gusty winds. Oh yes, adding to that is the observance of All Saints Day that falls on a Sunday and All Souls Day on Monday… as usual a long weekend, but unfortunately not for me.

With the typhoon and a long weekend, I already expected it would be a bit chaotic and with bigger chances that I would be standing on the bus on my way home. Hay ang kulit kasi ng lahi! I don’t know, just really want to be at Los Banos and have a real good rest.

I was already thinking twice if I would go home in Laguna since last week, actually went on to decide not to go home when I got a text message from my sister that the typhoon has hit Laguna. Marketing peeps were already even planning to go look for a Videoke place, but seem unfortunate and I must say I was a bit choosy too! Haha sorry, I felt I wouldn’t be much enjoying it with my voice still cracking up due to colds and cough. Later, some felt lazy about the plan including me and I finally decided to pursue with my weekend travel back home since it was already sunny before I left the office.

11AM. Going with my usual routine, traveled to Robinsons Galleria where I would wait for the bus. Had lunch first and bought English muffin and water, back up food just in case travel time takes too long. Waited for already 20 minutes but no bus going to Sta. Cruz and even other provincial bus going to South is showing up. Bad, bad, bad… really not a good idea to wait. Usual routine FAIL.

Almost 12NN, rode on bus going to Buendia to then proceed to the bus terminal. Hay, another FAIL! When I arrived at the terminal, I think there’s more than a hundred people lined-up waiting. Hala, no available bus yet! I didn’t have the patience to wait. I turned back and started to comprehend of either an alternative route or go back to Pasig instead. No! I really wanted to be in Elbi this weekend.

12:30PM. There is another bus terminal just beside the first terminal I've checked, but they don’t have a bus going to Sta Cruz. An alternative is available though. VOILA! Hmmmm, when I’ve learned that there are no people lined-up and certainly would be comfortably seated, sige go to Balibago, Sta. Rosa!

No traffic, already at Sta. Rosa by 1:30PM. Now time for a jeepney ride to Calamba via SLEX. It started to rain again and got bored. Naman! What a slow jeepney ride, there was no instance the entire travel that it has overtaken another car! Zzzzzzzzz… let’s add another boring moment. Got stuck on traffic near the tollgate for almost 30 minutes.

2:30PM finally in Calamba. Ok, one last bus or jeepney ride and I’m finally home. Chose to ride on a bus even if I would be standing, just to be safer from flood just in case. Good thing it wasn’t traffic and Pansol area is not flooded.

By 3PM, finally Home Sweet Home! I have to pay the price for yearning to be home and literally, that ride going home was a bit more expensive than the usual. Though tired, but I guess it’s worth it after all. Now I can relax and have a good rest, TV time, cook… name it all! Simply, nothing beats the coziness and calm sanctuary of our own home.