Wrong Way, Buddy!

Elicar: 10th Oct 2007 - 05:30 GMT

I might as well acquaint readers the exact place where this was taken.

We were travelling along Ortigas Avenue, coming from Pasig City (Manila, as I refer to is the Greater Manila Area). The background is the Ortigas Centre. The tallest building is the Robinson's Galleria, a hotel with a mall in the first few floors. In this complex is the Shoemart (SM) MegaMall, one of the 10 biggest malls in the world. I used to work in this area, working at the twin towers of Hongkong Shanghai Bank. The towers were the tallest buildings then 20 years ago at 20 floors each as there were only about 10 buildings then at that time. The twin towers have been demolished in 2005. I haven't seen what replaced it, but it must be one towering condominium or office building.

EvilGentleman: 10th Oct 2007 - 05:52 GMT

Three weeks ago, my van was hit by a man from Toronto driving the wrong way down Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal.

I was standing outside the bar having a cigarette and drinking a Coke (I never, ever drink and drive) when I saw a car turn west onto the street, which is one-way eastbound. I yelled as loud as I could, "One way! One way!", which caused him to slow down.

At the same time, a police car one block west noticed him and turnwed on their flashing lights. This spooked the man into quickly pulling over into an empty parking spot behind my van, sideswiping the rear of my van in the process, which was obvious due to my van suddenly wobbling on its suspension.

I ran up to tell the police that I was going to check for damage while they gave the driver a breathalyser. When I took a closer look, I realized that the only evidence of his passing was a grey streak on my white paintjob along the side near the rear bumper. The grey paint was his, so my paint was still untouched underneath.

I went back to the police, and it was by then quite obvious that the driver was not intoxicated, but merely lost. He was about 60 years old, and it seemed he might need a new eyeglass prescription, as he did not see the one-way signs under the streetlights. Since the damage was going to cost him money, not me, I did not file a report, and the police let him go on his way, this time headed in the proper direction.

I must say, these particular police were very polite and helpful. I wish they were all like that.

Elicar, I never had a chance to reply to your email yet, but I got it. Thank you very much. I will send you similar links soon, but right now I need sleep. After your visit home, I would just like to say welcome home. I know both are home, and I understand completely.

Elicar: 10th Oct 2007 - 11:00 GMT

EvilG, I am back! Thank you!

Jet Lagged, so I downloaded all my 691 pictures. That's anemic as compared to the 1200 pictures I took in Nov 06-Jan 07.