A lot of things have changed :-) Check out the new and improved Fort.5 !
Interior design by JC Gervasio and Associates
Mission accomplished. Fort.5 is now complete, now, let the living in begin :-)
Showing posts with label Experiences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Experiences. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Fort Bus and other Modes of Transport
So I had my misadventure with the Gate 3 route, so I decided to try the Forbes/ McKinley route the other night. I was blessed with the presence of a friend who decided to go with me for the fun of it, (Thanks Mauster!) . The Fort Buses travel around the private area of the Fort and take people to and from EDSA.
We first boarded the WRONG BUS , where the driver so loudly pointed out that we have to get off and board the other bus. Blushing and laughing, we got off and went for the other bus. We didn't know that there were several routes! We had dinner at Market! Market! (Ineng's!), had a bit of kwento while we waited for Maui's fiance. I wanted to look for the jeep that would take me to Fort.5 but they offered to just take me home that night (Doy had a car) and told me that the jeeps will always be there :-)
So, Friday (a holiday!) became my official public transport exploration day. I now know the jeep route (and have decided that the McKinley route is probably the best , maybe not quicker - but it feels safer!) , and now believe that Market! Market! is a nice mall after all. I just have to figure out if these modes of transport are available 24/7 or would there be a certain hour that it is difficult to get home? hmmm.
Sunday, my dad arrived from CDO so I had more confidence to take the car and drive around with somebody guiding me. The one way streets of the Fort would take some getting used to :-( Good thing it's not yet crowded.
Fort neighbors! Who's up for a drive one weekend? ... Just so I can familiarize myself with the place!! I really need to learn and I don't want to keep on bugging my dad hehe. You just make sure you're insured for the ride with me ;-) hehe.
We first boarded the WRONG BUS , where the driver so loudly pointed out that we have to get off and board the other bus. Blushing and laughing, we got off and went for the other bus. We didn't know that there were several routes! We had dinner at Market! Market! (Ineng's!), had a bit of kwento while we waited for Maui's fiance. I wanted to look for the jeep that would take me to Fort.5 but they offered to just take me home that night (Doy had a car) and told me that the jeeps will always be there :-)
So, Friday (a holiday!) became my official public transport exploration day. I now know the jeep route (and have decided that the McKinley route is probably the best , maybe not quicker - but it feels safer!) , and now believe that Market! Market! is a nice mall after all. I just have to figure out if these modes of transport are available 24/7 or would there be a certain hour that it is difficult to get home? hmmm.
Sunday, my dad arrived from CDO so I had more confidence to take the car and drive around with somebody guiding me. The one way streets of the Fort would take some getting used to :-( Good thing it's not yet crowded.
Fort neighbors! Who's up for a drive one weekend? ... Just so I can familiarize myself with the place!! I really need to learn and I don't want to keep on bugging my dad hehe. You just make sure you're insured for the ride with me ;-) hehe.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Taxi!
Took the cab to work today. I was so lucky that a cab was just right outside the building!
Cost me P85.00, hmm steeper than I thought! But hey, I got here in the office in less than 30 minutes!
Cost me P85.00, hmm steeper than I thought! But hey, I got here in the office in less than 30 minutes!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
To and From Work
Lessons learned today
- No elaborate breakfasts when Pepi is not here to drive the car to work. Takes too much time to prepare, wash, clean and wipe everything dry. There’s no point for a nice breakfast if you don’t have the luxury of time to savor it (I happen to be a breakfast person!)
- Leave at 7 am. It takes 2 hours to get to the Makati Central Business District via public transport
- Bring an umbrella so you don't have to worry
I timed it. It takes 15 – 20 minutes to walk from our place to the compound’s gate. Around 10 minutes to get a jeepney to an intersection where I get another ride. It was hard to get a ride there, took me 20 minutes of waiting and “managing the crowd” time. The traffic was bad going towards the MCBD, which was like, another 30-40 minutes. I got off at the jeep’s last stop and decided to walk to the office, cutting through
This evening, I decided to wait for Pepi (he had dinner with some frat brods) so we can go home together. His evening ended at 10PM (don’t worry I also had my own social life while my dad was enjoying) and it took us 15 minutes to get home via private car. Sheesh.
When we boarded the lift going to our floor, there was a foreign guy (probably British, because of his accent) who smelled strongly of alcohol riding with us. "Y'all just moved in?? I telll yahhh, a loot of people moving in this building!!!" -- with matching shaking of head. Hah, parang ayaw? Good evening, neighbor!
Side note: Pepi also brought home ulam good for 4-5 meals…. Hmmm… looks like one night of my cooking made him miss his “real food” and Milky Way Café .. hehe. He told me that he ordered them because they didn’t consume the consumable amount (just an excuse??? Hmp!)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Moving Jitters
Aside from the huge responsibilities of the monthly ammortization, association and maintenance dues, I have a lot of uncertainties re: moving to our new place.
1. I'm not 100% sold . I was just convinced by my husband, my dad, my uncle that it was going to be a smart move especially if we're getting a 'family loan' for the equity plus a government loan for the rest. I am not a financially savvy person, so I am so scared of the monthly obligation. But since marriage is a partnership, I decided to heed my husband's advice and reassurance!
Add up to the fact that I read from a friend's blog that "owning your own home" is a liability (? how true is that ? anyone ? ) unless you get a little bit of income from the rental. Well, we're striving to make it nice so we can rent it out for a higher price in the future, if ever.
2. I love convenience. Our new place is far from everything. Far from the gate of the compound, far from grocery stores and shopping malls, far from the office (takes 3 jeepney rides), far from the bus going home to Laguna. I have to get used to the commute since I won't expect my dad to always follow my schedule. (I am not planning to drive any time soon) . The San Lo apartment spoiled me so much because I just walked everywhere.
3. It seems like we're neighbors with some important people and it just gives me goosebumps to see the whole entourage standing by the hallways giving you the once-over everytime you pass by. :oP Maybe we should make friends with the motorcycle escorts so we can avoid traffic, hehe.
So there. Now I am learning , the hard way - that there should be a lot of things to think about when getting your own home beyond "simply wanting to have one" -- the additional costs of maintenance and association dues, convenience factors (accessibility, etc consider this because of the transport and opportunity costs) , the neighborly-ism of your neighbors and the ease of dealing with your developer!
1. I'm not 100% sold . I was just convinced by my husband, my dad, my uncle that it was going to be a smart move especially if we're getting a 'family loan' for the equity plus a government loan for the rest. I am not a financially savvy person, so I am so scared of the monthly obligation. But since marriage is a partnership, I decided to heed my husband's advice and reassurance!
Add up to the fact that I read from a friend's blog that "owning your own home" is a liability (? how true is that ? anyone ? ) unless you get a little bit of income from the rental. Well, we're striving to make it nice so we can rent it out for a higher price in the future, if ever.
2. I love convenience. Our new place is far from everything. Far from the gate of the compound, far from grocery stores and shopping malls, far from the office (takes 3 jeepney rides), far from the bus going home to Laguna. I have to get used to the commute since I won't expect my dad to always follow my schedule. (I am not planning to drive any time soon) . The San Lo apartment spoiled me so much because I just walked everywhere.
3. It seems like we're neighbors with some important people and it just gives me goosebumps to see the whole entourage standing by the hallways giving you the once-over everytime you pass by. :oP Maybe we should make friends with the motorcycle escorts so we can avoid traffic, hehe.
So there. Now I am learning , the hard way - that there should be a lot of things to think about when getting your own home beyond "simply wanting to have one" -- the additional costs of maintenance and association dues, convenience factors (accessibility, etc consider this because of the transport and opportunity costs) , the neighborly-ism of your neighbors and the ease of dealing with your developer!
This morning I was cooking breakfast in our San Lo apartment - only to find out that my coffee and my sandok are not there anymore :-( turns out my folks (in their excited effort to make moving easier for me) packed the contents of my pantry already and brought them to the new place last night.
I feel sad about letting go of my Makati convenience ! Stale air, car exhaust fumes, cockroaches and all!
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