Riding in Pedicab with Girls

Went to Divisoria a couple of weeks back with my sis Donna and her 3 sis-in-laws, Cristina, Marivic and Katrina. We trekked to Divisoria at a God forsaken hour of 7:30... I know its not that early, but if the stores aren't open yet, whaddaya think????

We've heard a lot about the new 168 building which hosts the most number of tiangges anyone could fit in a 2 storey building. Needless to say by 11:00 we've spent half of our shopping money but still raring to transfer to New Divisoria Mall for more bargains. But first we need to recharge by having lunch. 168's food court isn't bad, in fact the food and prices are also a bargain. Considering it was a holiday, we expected the mall teeming with people. Donna had to contract a lady to reserve their table for us after they finished, which was 30 mins later! After a hearty lunch and piping hot bibingka from Aldrino's (man their bibingka was ok but at 55 bucks a pop it was expensive) I thought we're now ready to transfer to Anding's Toy Store and New Divisoria Mall.

As we stepped out to Sta. Elena going to Juan Luna, I couldn't believe my eyes! The throng of people was reminiscent of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo! You can only move inch by inch, literrally, I was face to neck, hip to hip, butt to crotch to the people in front, beside and the back of me. After about 15 minutes we managed to cross Juan Luna only to encounter the same experience on the small Sta Elena extension to reach New Divi Mall.

By the time we reached the building housing all toy stores in Divi, I was spent and ready to call it quits. After shopping for a few toys, my sis and I met up with the other gals at New Divi Mall. Instead of shopping I spent the time waiting for them at the 2nd floor stairwell, taking a break and just chilling out.

Finally by 2pm they're all finished and we readied ourselves for another round of pushing and shoving to get to Juan Luna. Fortunately, the number of people thinned out by that time and we managed to reach Juan Luna in leisurely fashion.

Since we've decided to ask Richie (my bro-in-law) to fetch us in Binondo instead, considering there's no chance in hell he can manage to reach divi, park or even wait for us, we have to go to Ongpin street to meet up with him.

There were no FX nor jeepneys in sight, only private cars and vans. Thank God for the inventor of pedicabs! Miraculously the biggest pedicab I've ever seen was parked at the foot of the bridge. The driver was excited to see 5 ladies laden with a bayong and numerous plastic bags. I asked the driver to hail another pedicab to ferry us 5. We were aghast when he declared no, I can take all of you. I said are you sure? He said yeah, I even took 6 passengers earlier. That was comforting, I thought. Yeah right!!!

We watched skeptically as he managed to stow all our shopping bags, bayong and all at the compartment below the seat, there was even room for more after he was done! Wow! Donna was smart enough to seat herself first, so she got the best seat. Cristina took the side seat beside the driver, Kat and Mars took the seat in front of Donna. Since there was no room for me to sit beside Doinx, I took the other side seat, beside the door.

It was a challenge to sit with my head inside the pedicab, I was developing a nasty crick to my neck. So for the most part I had my head outside the pedicab. Kat and Mars must have suffered crouching inside.

For a few instances we thought the driver couldnt pedal us all the way, let alone manage not to crash against incoming vehicles. Yes incoming, because for a few minutes he was driving against the traffic along Juan Luna!!! As we turned to an eskinita, he had to go down the bike to push it instead, it was an incline, luckily there was a bystander you helped him pull the pedicab. Funny that the bystander got a peek at Mars' well hidden tatoo at the base of her spine! Yes she was wearing a pair low rider jeans. He shouted, "Aba, may tatoo pa siya!" What happened next was a few more people noticed the tatoo along the way. I told Mars, fortunately they couldn't see her face, only her tatoo is recognizable in Divi now.

Pity we didn't have a camera to take photos of our fun day at Divi and the hellish but excitable pedicab ride.

Wait a minute... darn! We forgot we all had camera phones!