Expressway? No. Freeway.
-=rey=-
I was coasting through the notorious afternoon rush hour traffic at about 50 kilometers an hour. Everyday, I go through the exact same situation and see the same things. But today seemed different.
Slowly the 50 kilometers an hour cruise became 40, then 25, a few minutes later I was at a complete stop. That is the South Luzon Expressway for you Rey. I muttered to myself. Instead of getting all frustrated and bursting my nerves, I rolled down the window and took a look outside. Just as I expected, the skies behind me were crystal clear, and the skies ahead were dark and heavy, laden with smog. The air in Batangas sure is a lot cleaner than the air in Manila.
I was still looking up to the skies when I got distracted by a flock of pigeons that took off from some of the pine trees lining up the expressway. Off they flew to my right hand side, towards the direction of Mount Makiling.
I rolled up my window. Traffic started moving again. After about half an hour another complete stop. Once again I rolled down my window. There were fewer trees now. Buildings are now situated a lot closer to the expressway at this area. I am near Susana Heights, I presumed. Suddenly, a fork of lightning and the loud crack of thunder that followed startled me. Heheh. Another common weekday afternoon sight and sound here at the South Expressway during the rainy season. The Mitsubishi Galant in front of me seems to be getting ready to move, it has been revving up its engine. Soon enough we roll again.
Five minutes later the trees are all gone and buildings are lined up everywhere. As for the traffic, it is still there. As expected, for one more time another complete stop. I thought about rolling down the window again but heck, I am surrounded by buildings now and the cars are a lot closer to each other. I am much more in danger of dying from carbon monoxide poisoning by rolling down my window than from staying in my car with the air conditioner on. Where am I now? Sucat? Maybe.
Out of the blue another loud rumble is heard, but not that of thunder. Then a gigantic thing crosses the skies above me. Oh, I am by the international airport runways now.
After what felt like forever and a day (which actually was only 15 minutes) traffic started moving again. Just a minute or so later there it was, the cause of the miles long traffic jam. A gasoline tanker lay on its side. Thank God this one was empty.
Out of curiosity I tried to read what company owned and operated the fuel tanker. The rear was so badly scratched I could hardly figure out the name. Aha! Arco. Vendors of some of the cheapest fuel in Ca..li..for..nia? What the hell?! What was an Arco tanker doing in the South Luzon Expressway?!
Then it dawned on me. This was NOT the expressway. I was homeward bound from work and I was currently driving down the 134 freeway going west. I was then in Burbank, California. I had to do a reality check a couple of times before I finally snapped out of it. It felt too much like the Philippines. Like the places I frequented most. Sadly everything had an explanation.
The smog up front was because of the city of Los Angeles. One of the top ten most polluted city atmospheres in the world. The pine trees I saw earlier and the birds and the mountain were all situated alongside the westbound 101 freeway which I merged from. Thunderstorms are not uncommon during the beginning weeks of Fall. And the landing plane was meant to land at the nearby Burbank airport.
I felt like I was sinking into the car seat, and I was just about to entertain my disappointment and my frustration because of the traffic. However, I caught myself and found a reason to smile. This traffic, this freeway, however unpleasant, even for a while, gave me a glimpse, took me back and made me feel what it was like to be in a place I called home.
