Missing Royal Star

I received an email today from someone offering us a livery for our bus fleet.

credits to the picture's owner

credits to the picture's owner

I regretfully informed him though that we already sold our city bus (EDSA) franchise last November 2012 pa.

--------------

I suddenly missed Royal Star. My family started the bus business in December 1995 and life has become better since then. Those buses gave us a truly comfortable living and we will forever be grateful.

However, some good things have to end. After seventeen years of operation, we finally decided to sell our franchise because we couldn't take the "EDSA pressure" anymore. I was already married that time and was about to migrate in Canada already. We thought it's best to focus na lang on our more lucrative company, Roadlink Travel and Tours (which operates tourist buses naman).

Now how can I even forget Royal Star when the color scheme of Edmonton Transit System (ETS) is similar to our fleet?

Our very first bus actually looked quite similar to this.

Madalas pag nasa kalsada ako, I am secretly wishing na sana may dumaan na Royal Star o Roadlink at sasakay ako haha!

Walking and commuting

We are currently living in a new community here at the West end of Edmonton. We initially came from the downtown area so I kinda got used to a 'busier' and 'noisier' place. But yeah, I've eventually grown to appreciate it here. Everything seems peaceful and quiet and safe.

The only drawback though of living here is the difficulty in public commuting. I do not have a driver's license yet (as that would raise up our insurance) so I am highly dependent on my husband. And since I will just be at home in the next few years, buying another car is not an option. Car is cheap, insurance is not.

When Ford and I were deciding (way back in 2012) on where to buy a house, I told him that it has to be accessible to a bus stop. He was able to convince me to say yes to this area because there "will be a bus stop just in front of our unit."

But when we finally moved here, we learned that buses only operate during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon. Waaaah! I wanted to cry for that would be so inconvenient. Pod was hopeful though. He assured me that when all the housing developments in our area are done, surely there will be more bus trips available for the residents. Eh kelan pa kaya yun?

So for the mean time, kailangang magtiis.

Just like yesterday. I had an appointment with my diabetes doctor at 1:30pm. I chose that schedule so that the husband could just drop me off at the Misericordia Hospital during his lunch time (he comes home for lunch, anyway). But fate must have put some trick on us. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng araw, kahapon pa niya kinailangang may puntahang site. And that was a last minute call, take note.

I had no choice but to take the bus. I haven't really commuted since the time I learned that I am expecting and quit my job. The nearest bus stop that has regular bus trips is approximately 1.5 km away. Walking that long is such a toil for a pregnant person like me, but what other choice do I have?

I was still lucky because the weather was fine, malamig at hindi maaraw. My baby Chicklet was also cooperative. My tummy was in a good mood at hindi naman sumakit.

The pressure really falls sa pag-timing sa bus. If I miss my bus, I would have to wait for another 30 minutes for the next one to arrive. But if I arrive too early, kailangan naman mag-antay ng nakatayo. How I wish there is a bench in this stop.

I miss you, Bus Stop 8096!

I am used to publicly commuting in the Philippines. Though I knew how to drive and we have cars, I preferred to commute most of the time because of heavy traffic, pricey gas price, lack of parking, and all the other inconveniences of driving your own car.

I don't mind taking the bus here. In fact, I feel like I would like to take the bus forever haha! Why, buses come on time so you can plan your schedule ahead. Sana lang magkaroon na ng regular trips sa lugar namin para hindi na malayo ang lakarin. I don't mind walking during non-snow times (and when I am not carrying a child), pero mahaba ang winter dito eh. It's difficult to walk in the snow with a -20+ weather.


-------------
Oops, this was my bus selfie pala taken at this very bus stop last March 11, 2014. It was still very cold and I was pregnant na pala (around 5 weeks) without me knowing it.

This is what you have to endure during winter to get to that bus stop.

On Commuting and ETS Fare

I started working last February 1 and a few days after that, I asked my husband to get me an ETS Monthly Pass. I really thought it would be sulit (I also anticipated that I can lend it to my sis-in-law for a few days that she was here so she can move on her own), but I was wrong.

An ETS Monthly Pass costs $89 and I certainly wasn't even able to consume half of its worth.

The reasons:

• I only used my pass in going to work (one-way) because Ford picks me up at night.
• My husband sometimes would drop me off at work on his way back to the office ( he eats lunch at home). He did so because buses only operate in our area during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon/evening and I would have to walk at least 1.2km to the next 'nearest' bus stop.
• My in-laws were here so I never had the time to "explore" Edmonton more by riding the bus.
• My sis-in-law never had the chance use my pass.

One of my regrets is that I never had a monthly pass when I was still a 'bum' and we were still living in Downtown. I was hard headed kasi, I told my husband that I didn't want to publicly commute. I got so used to having my own personal driver, that's why.

Up until now, I am still nanghihinayang with my February Pass. Pero di bale na nga, may tax credit naman kahit papaano.

So for this month, Ford just bought a 20-pack Adult Ticket online. I think it cost him around $45 (including shipping). Not bad since one ticket only costs around $2.25 (exact cash fare in the bus is $3.20).

I still find the ETS fare here in Edmonton a bit pricey. Hay, I better get used to it. Riding the bus is still much cheaper than buying and maintaining another car eh.