I Should Have Consulted Google Maps
Unlike 5 months ago when traveling to Manila was part of my day job, today was different, I started hating the long travel time and the El Niño heat adds up to it’s inconvenience. Since my tenure in a Quezon City ended, I seldom go to Manila, the last time I went to Manila was when I covered the Chinese New Year celebration in Binondo.
Today, I was forced to go to Makati because of a very important personal reason, I went to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia to get some pertinent documents. The last time I was there was almost 4 years ago when I requested for visa extension in 2006, I know where it was located so going there (I thought) will be easy.
I arrived in Bendia, Makati shortly after 11AM, I went straight (walking) towards Jupiter Street (that’s where I knew it was), then I walk west ward and checking every building and I can’t find the building! I knew I was lost when I reached Paseo de Roxas, it’s time to look for human GPS (traffic enforcers) to ask for direction.
It was almost 12NN and I don’t seem to find any enforcer to show me the way, from Paseo de Roxas I walked towards EDSA to look for a cooler place to stay and have my lunch, it was 34°c outside. I dined at the new McDonalds and gathered my senses, no wifi inside McDo to check for directions.
After about 30 minutes inside McDonalds, I went out & took a jeepney, honestly I don’t know where I am going, the best thing I can do is find a traffic enforcer or those what they call as tourist assistance centers that is located in major streets of Makati. It was when I saw the Saudia Airlines office that I went down, I asked the police officer stationed nearby, he was courteous to show me the new location.
Finally I found the place, but also sadly that I can’t get the document from the embassy.
Lessons learned, check Google maps first before embarking into a journey, it proves to be a one important step!
