San Fernando, Pampanga

2014-05-22

I took a day off from work and went 'exploring' with LB. Originally, we were going to visit a museum but completely out of the blue, LB asked if I wanted to go to Pampanga. Course, I said yes even though I only had the vaguest idea how to get there. 

Luckily, we were in the Doroteo Jose area when that question came up, and so we visited the bus terminals to inquire about trips to SM San Fernando. LB wanted to visit the SM there because it's supposed to be at par with SM Megamall in terms of area. It's also one of the more familiar terminals in the province. So off we went. 

The bus was clean and airconditioned, with TV on board. There were only a few passengers when we left Manila. The bus picked up more people along the way to NLEX.

Fare: 102 pesos. 

We arrived at 1:30 pm, around two hours travel. Anticipating that we will arrive well after lunchtime, we bought a few munchies from the numerous sidewalk vendors in the terminal area. Chips, water, soda. LB and I shared a big steamed corn. 

Finally, we arrived at SM San Fernando. True, it was big and spacious. The layout is much like the newly renovated SMs. Fully airconditioned. The only weird thing is that there is only one escalator and that is to the left side if the building.

I only took random shots.

Shaketacular Milk Bar 

Because we need a break from the heat, I got a Speculoos with A Twix. Details on my other blog!

Free WiFi! I was easily able to connect and the signal was strong except for when I was in the Cyberzone area. 

A display from their Healthy Options branch.

We watched the latest X-Men movie.  The cinema was fine but due to a technical glitch, they asked us to leave our E-Plus tap cards with them and claim them once we got out.

We also crossed the street to see the Robinson's mall there, but it was like a big tiyangge. SM has by far the more modern feel.

A souvenir from the trip: Kinder chocolate bought from the nearest 7-11 store. 

For Train Commuters: How To Make Rush Hour Bearable

It's rush hour, and everyone wants to get to their destination at once. Trains are packed, tempers flare up, train doors won't close, and everyone gets delayed a little bit longer each time. 

I call it the crush hour. 

I have been riding 3 of our most congested train lines (PNR, MRT-3, LRT-1) since 2006. Everyday I transfer from one line to the other because this mode of transportation still beats traffic on the road. We need to help each other because otherwise, we'll all be late!! :(  

Here are some ways I make trips bearable for myself, and help others in the process. 

1. Move to the aisle. 

Unless I'm getting off in the next two stations, I look if there's room on the inside of the train away from the doors: room enough for to squeeze in. Believe me, I breathe a lot easier come the next station when people come in. The people who stand just inside the door are jostled, elbowed, pushed from all sides (can you say, abused?). 

I've noticed a tendency of people to stop moving when the person one follows inside stops. The one in front may not be looking to squeeze in. On crowded trains, you need to find your own way. 

1-2 stops away from my destination, I make my way to the door slowly by either following the flow of people who are getting off, or asking people to exchange positions. People are usually accommodating when they know you're getting off soon. (Beats a panicked elbow to the face from a careless co-commuter who's scrambling to get off at the last minute.)

2. Keep bags up front.

I need personal breathing space, so I keep my bag in front. In addition to assuring a breathing space, it also ensures I'm not taking up more space than needed. Finally, it helps me to keep my belongings safe. 

3. Hair in a bun. 

Hair acts as a heat insulator. So tying it up keeps the neck area cool, which really helps (even if you've literally got someone breathing down your neck :p). Personally though, to be stuck to hair that is not mine for 30 minutes on a train is a yucky feeling when the air conditioner is not up to speed. Especially when the hair is wet. Or warm. Imagine wet hair on your face.  Please, keep your tresses in front or in a bun. 



Red carpet-worthy, and practical, too! Image credit to Total Beauty

4. Use the baggage rack (if provided).

If I carry a light load, or nothing at all, I move and breathe easier and am not so grumpy. 

 

5. Fan it out. 

Cool air comes from the vents on top, while warm bodies exude all sorts of air currents, scents and fumes that are warm, but (more important) not so friendly to the nose. So if you're a lady and you carry a fan, fan out the cooler air above head. Sighs of relief will break out around you.

(See the blue splotch in a sea of black? That's public service.)

Everyday (Major) Traffic on Blumentritt, Manila

This picture shows three-fifths of a once 5-lane road closed due to ongoing construction. 

A once 2-minute stretch now consumes between 10 to 30 minutes of travel because if you're coming from the North (NLEX, Novaliches, Munoz etc.) this road is a main thoroughfare for public transportation going to Manila. 

Calling, calling DPWH/Maynilad and all of the responsible agents to fix Blumentritt St. ASAP! It will be the start of classes soon and it would be a nightmare. 

#Usagi in the house

Heavy rainfall + suspension of classes make a whole lot of difference.
I was really surprised when there was absolutely no hassle in commuting, and even better - no long lines in the MRT

EDSA - from Magallanes to Q. Avenue

Shoutout to those who braved the bad weather to go to work this morning ;-)

The "immortals"

Review: The Original Sa Lido Restaurant (Retiro branch)

Yesterday, I had the chance to eat dinner at the semi-new Sa Lido branch that opened in NS Amoranto (Retiro) Street, very near my place.

From what I know of this restaurant, it only has two other branches. the oldest is on Ongpin street in Binondo - right at the heart of Chinatown; another is in San Juan. Nothing fancy, just a simple place to eat share Chinese-style meals with friends and loved ones.

I wouldn't say the NS Amoranto branch is fancy, but it's far from being a hole-in-the-wall with its modern lights and new furniture. Whenever I pass by, this branch is always full of people. We were lucky last night and had a homey booth all to ourselves.

I was in the mood for something warm due to the strong cold wind blowing outside - for that, the Seafood Spinach soup sounded just about right. My friend recommended their asado as the restaurant is well-known for it. They also had fresh fruit juices at a reasonable price so we had watermelon and mango.

The food came quickly, hot and fresh - I was not keeping track but it felt like 15 minutes -although I spent some more time arranging the food to take pictures (not quite that hungry, I guess. Hehe!) The soup was rich without being salty. Aside from the pureed spinach which gives the soup its color, it also had white vermicelli-like noodles, shrimp and bits of some sort of seafood I could not quite place, but it was comfort food, all right. Their asado was quite tasty, dry, with a slight smoked flavor that is a bit different from the asado I expected from a Chinese restaurant. The asado was served in a wide plate with garnish and a side of sweet-and-sour sauce. We ate asado with hot white rice served in individual bowls.

Asado. The throat sighs! 

Pros: Bright yet cozy atmosphere owing to the booths

         Very clean

         Excellent service

         Food served hot

         Servings are good for sharing

         Food is excellent

         Price range: about 150-200 per person for a group of 4.

Cons: Price is a bit steep if you plan on dining alone

          ...lots of leftovers (not really a con as you can always take it home but you may be ordering more than you can eat)

          Typical Chinese busy restaurant with lots of activities and people talking, sometimes the noise level is high

The restaurant offers a wide variety of other dishes, from dimsum and noodles, to seafood, to all-day Filipino-style breakfast! I saw lots more yummy stuff in the menu--I look forward to coming back, this time with a bigger group, to sample more.

(Seafood Spinach soup - 235 PhP; Asado 1/4 kilo - 180 PhP; Fresh mango juice - 60 PhP)

Their FB page is here. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Original-Salido-Restaurant/135764549795771

Address: Retiro corner Speaker Perez Street (beside Starbucks)

Open until 10 pm

Trivia: Their Ongpin branch is more popularly known as the LIDO Restaurant. The owners changed its name to Sa Lido but still for them it is "the Original" :-)

A Day in the Life of a PNR Commuter

As much as I appreciate Manila's Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems for going about this city, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has actually done more to make life easier for me these past 3 years.

Ever heard of the PNR? No? Well it has been around since 1892, long before the LRT1 line in Manila was established, but only in the recent years was it renovated to be a mode of transportation fit for the massive working class.

So what's new about the PNR? Well the trains are upgraded - painted and airconditioned.
Trains are scheduled to arrive every hour, except for the rush hours (between 5 to 11 in the morning and 4 to 7 in the evening) when they arrive every 30 minutes.

In terms of size, it's much wider than the LRT1 or MRT3. (You can't feel it during rush hour, but trust me, it is. :-P)

Is it reliable? Yes! Well... most of the time. There are two sorts of delays:
1. "Low on air" (bumababa ang ere) - As I understand it, the air gauge controls the opening and closing of doors, among others, and can be affected by factors such as overloading... which causes delays of 10 minutes every station waiting for air to increase.
2. A full blown "technical problem" which means transferring to the next serviceable train to arrive, or pursuing other ways of commuting to your destination.

Its route takes it along paths that are street level, which means 1.) more risk of getting hit, for one (!) 2.) a loud series of bullhorns announcing its arrival so as to lessen the chance of accidents.

(Remember the 90s sitcom Home Along da Riles where the characters hold on to whatever furniture they can whenever a train arrives? That's PNR for you.... hoot, hoot!)

But these numbers say, it's worth it:
1. The 10-peso fare from Manila ^__^
2. The 40-minute travel time from downtown Manila to the business districts of Makati and Taguig.
3. Trains arrive on time, most of the time. I'm going out on a limb and say... 90%. If you ride it every weekday during rush hour, catching the same ride each time, chances are it will be late once every month.

Hello!

Welcome to this blog! :)

Hope you find it interesting!

Cheers,
Lily