New Moves

I wouldn't say that it all came too sudden. But however I look at it, it still feels this way.

For the second time in the span of two months, I am again on the plans of moving to another place. But this isn't even my doing, not even my choice. But as they say, it seems that this is a part of life here.

I am lucky to find out that this place I am eyeing is still up for rent. I talked to the caretaker/manager of the building and I was able to come to terms with him and settle all my issues. It's just up to me when I can move. This all happened before twilight.

On my way home, on the bus, I had these thoughts about moving. There would be no more bus rides for me in the morning and on the way home; I am moving to a place near my work, which is even less than five hundres steps away. I wonder when the bus card system will finally be fixed and they will have one system going. I wonder how I will spend those times that I was supposed to still be travelling. I wonder about a lot of things I can associate with moving.

You might say I am excited. But I still hate the concept of moving; especially if I am not really up to it. It's just that it is now the only choice left.

On books...

Finally, I am done with "Twilight."

I do not have much to say about it, honestly. I was actually surprised that the few pages left when I checked was a preview of the sequel. I think when I cam to the prom night, I wasn't expecting it was the end. I was thinking about something else, something more. I thought there is still something bigger that's going to happen, bigger than what already did. It's not that it's a disappointment. It's something more of expectations.

But with regard to Meyer's writing, I can say that for me she's got that style. I admire it, really. There are a lot of the things she said that surprise me, that makes me realize those things are possibe, that she has this way of articulating my thoughts - those hard ones.

Tonight, I am off to a new adventure. I am a little excited because this is something new, something different for me. I am starting with the book "The Last of the Mohicans" by James Fenimore Cooper. Another classical novel. It's about the Indian tribe - the Mohican tribe - of the 1700s.

Dead Tones

Part of my job is making cold calls to companies inquiring about the insurance requirements. This isn't easy as some of you might have thought. It's hard to get to the right person because sometimes, they are too busy. Other times, there are those who pretend they are the right person. But that's another story.

Some calls are funny. People tend to converse in their own little, weird ways... Most of the time, though these are not that frequent, these things are what me say, "I love my job!" because it works as a therapy whenever those times come that it looks like it's gotten a little too much. I sometimes write down these 'responses' and go back to them from time to time to remind me of the fun part of my job. They serve as perks.

What doesn't happen too often is getting that dead tone. Back then. The dead tone that I call is that steady, continous tone that means that the phone is no longer in service. It wasn't that much when I started. But it has been quite often these days. You might say "Recession," and I say, "Yes," to that without hesitation.

But even so, I couldn't help but feel this [little bit] of certain sadness that I couldn't comprehend and articulate whenever I hear this unfamiliar-that-is-becoming-familiar tone. It seems to me that this is another addition to the mortality of business which has never been a good thing. Because all things being equal, it is never easy to let go of what used-to-be a good thing... errr... even if it was never too good a thing.

Anyway...

Bus Card System Updates. I rode a different route on my way home having been from the abra (boat). Well, as I have thought so, the system is not yet in full operation. I rode a bus which do not have yet the machine for new bus cards, so I ended up paying cash again. I wonder when this system will be in full operation.

Well, being at the creek did me some good. It's always been my favorite place here. So, I still had a good time even though it's like 42c [that hot]. Although it is never my thing to ride the boat on business attire, I chose to for some reason. It's a good thing that it's not that humid, but the ride was a little bumpy and shaky since it's kinda windy and being on the tail of a big dhow even made it a little worse.

Implementation

Today is the last day for the buses to accept payments in cash. That was what I heard about two days ago. The thing is I just couldn't confirm if this is true or not. Because as I said on my last post here, no one knows when it's really pushing through. Well, I'll wait for a few days then blog about it.

But anyway, here is what I have experience last week using the new bus card.

I rode the bus and guess what? The bus doesn't have the machine. Now I have to pay cash, which I didn't bring. I have like a whole bill and the driver reacted that my money was big. So, I politely smiled and screamed in my mind: That's because I have the damn bus card! He had to make me sit first so that he can prepare my change. It wasn't that bad on my way back, but still the bus didn't have the machine.

I was so pissed off because of the inconsistency. If they are trying to implement it, they should have both options for buses. The funny thing is, some buses do not accept cash, while other buses do not accept cards. I really think it should be either or, not neither nor. The whole point is if all buses are not ready for the cashless or card system, they should be accepting cash on any buses, too.

I realy wonder what's going to happen when they finally stop accepting cash. Just a few minutes before I started writing this blog, my room mate just came in telling me her story. She was waiting for the bus for like about 10 or 15 minutes, only to be asked to get down by two buses because they are not accepting cash. But again, lucky for her, because after about 30 minutes, there is another bus route that still accept cash. Another inconsistency! So, my question is, are they really ready for the cashless sytem tomorrow?

I just pity those people who are not really prepared for it, only because they were not informed about it.

On other things...

I'm just about half-way done with the book Twilight. Oh well, if you've been reading my posts, I have said several times that I've put off reading this for some reasons. That's why when I finished with "The Mill On The Floss," I decided not to double-read this time so my attention wouldn't be absorbed again by the other book. So, this is like a love story and a hero-story in one. Really, I can now say that I am not a fan of this hero-things. It's not that I have anything against it, I am just not into it. Edward and Bella's story is also really touching. But as I have said on my bookblog, it might probably be my romance-meter being calibrated often. One thing I can tell is that Stephanie Meyer is a good writer. Yes, she is. But then again, it might be the kind of story that I am looking for. I just want to know how this is to end, then I don't know what's going to make me read the sequels.

Transitions

I want to mark this day since this is the last day of my bus card. For this would really affect me. Ever since I've been here, I've been using this to move myself around. It's like a monthly subscription and unlimited, too. The thing is, they are removing it and replacing with a new system; and it is not monthly anymore.

The card on top is the old one. It has been my 'constant companion ' since I arrived here in Dubai and I should say that it really helped me through. Since it is unlimited, I was able to explore and study the transportation system; the routes, the numbers. Sadly, timing is not something I was able to study since it is perfectly unpredictable. I was able to familiarize myself of the routes on areas that I don't really frequent and can more or less tell the route of the buses by their numbers. Not all, but quite a number of them.

The card at the bottom is the new card. Disposable! Which means that after 10 rides, you throw it and get a new one. I should say this is not really very environment-friendly. The old one is more practical. I've had it for a year and I didn't have to get a new one everytime.

Anyway, the new system requires every commuter to buy this card for AED 18, and it is good for 10 rides. Eventually, buses would not accept cash anymore. It is now being slowly implemented since some of the bus routes do not accept cash anymore. The consequence is, a lot of people couldn't ride if they cannot buy the card. Card access is not a problem since you can buy it from the driver. But the thing is not everyone couldn't afford to pay AED 18 upfront. I just hope that these people would realize that by next month, they should allot enough money to get them through the month - their transportation allowance. Otherwise, they might end up walking to or from work. Until when is the ticket system? Who knows? That's why commuters should be preparing as early as now.

One question that has been bugging me about this new system is that the inspection process. With the old system, inspectors just take a look at your ticket and they know, because you have the proof - the ticket serves as the receipt. However, in this card system, how do we prove that we paid for that ride? I heard someone said that they actually perfected the system for flaws. That there is a machine that can actually detect that you indeed paid. How will we know? The fine for not paying a ride is AED 200. What if the machine fails?

Anyway...

Still on the road...

I remember blogging also about crossing pedestrian lanes here. Like I don't wait for the red signal, because I wait for all of the cars in front to stop. Recently, the Dubai Traffic Police has been vigilant about jaywalkers with a fine of AED 200 if caught. Some people are actually furious because of this regulation. And I say, "Duh!" They are just trying to protect us. Really. You should know how risky it is at the streets of Dubai. This article here shows some statistics and facts about the roads of Dubai. And believe me, I saw one taxi spin right before my eyes about two weeks ago. We shouldn't be crossing just anywhere we want... no, at least not here in this country.

I Miss The Rant

And it has been a week...

• I've not been busy, I must admit. I just got engrossed with the newest websites, social networking sites and all that has been fed to me ever since I can remember. I only had the time [and interest] to check it recently. Funny but one friend commented about me having several social networking sites. The truth is, I do not automatically go to these sites to create an account. It all starts with invites. I kind of ignore the first, second, third and fourth. But the fifth would finally get my attention. The thing is some friends are in this site and others are not; some are there but not on this so-and-so site. So, to have my updates of these friends, I join their sites. But true to what has been said about friendster before, those people who have like threeorfourorfive hundred friends are not even "friends personally" with those hundreds. And I really believe that. With friendster, I used have like just about 20, and it only increased up to a hundred after four years. So, right now, I tweet, I plurk, I am at FaceBook. With only about 20 people at the most per site, I am happy with what I have.

• Anyway, I've been also busy since the week began because of some backlogs as I got sick. That's why I once tweeted here that I love-hate being sick. And also, my GoogleReader seems to attract new websites at the rate of two a day, average. There are a lot of interesting sites that most of them occupies my online time; that which I actually enjoy. The only part that I don't like the most is that it takes away a lot of time from my book-reading. But, no qualms, it's actually working perfectly fine with me.

• If you have read about the OFW encounter I had last week, I have an update... surprisingly. I didn't mention that I gave her my visiting card [business card] for future reference and just in case. Well, she called me late this afternoon to really thank me [as per what she said] and to ask for an advice. She'd been looking for work and a lot are interested in hiring her. But there is a problem. It turned out she discovered that she's holding an employment visa and she would need a cancellation from her previous sponsor/employer so she can get another work. I told her I would ask around what else could be done aside from going to the consulate. Actually, going to the consulate would have been the best advice I can tell her but then, I have heard some news that it only does a little help, if there is any at all. I half-believe that, too. I guess she heard about it as well. Again, my heart bleeds for this.