MY SPA DE JAVU EXPERIENCE

 

 

 

Sea salt foot soak for 5 minutes before the reflexology foot massage. 

 

 

 

LESSON LEARNED ON A MONDAY

Going out for some important transaction downtown isn't so much fun at all! The not-so-cold but not-so-warn autumn weather, fairly cloudy with rainshowers in between at 12 degress and me wearing a pair of knee high boots, leggings, black top underneath with white tee as my top and the heavy wool coat to keep me warm is such a nuisance! I prefer a pair of slippers, plain tee and jeans walking around but that's not always the case in this part of the world. After all, it's 6 weeks before winter! 

Going downtown without a car from Northshore means getting into the 239 or 228 bus, get down Lonsdale Quay for the seabus going to Waterfront for 15 minutes and a 5-minute walk to the World Trade Center-Vancouver where the Philippine Consulate office is. Well, that's my case. Others either take the bus or the skytrain to get around places. Going back of course, will still be the same, unless you opt on riding a bus to Park Royal via Dundarave if you're not in a hurry. 

In riding the bus, seabus or the skytrain, we use compass card. "Compass is the reloadable fare card that works everywhere on transit in Metro Vancouver. To travel on SkyTrain, SeaBus or West Coast Express, you need a Compass Card or Compass Ticket to open fare gates or to tap on a station validator. You can keep using cash, bus transfers and FareSavers on buses, but you’ll need Compass to transfer to rail or SeaBus. Compass Cards can be loaded with Monthly Passes, DayPasses and Stored Value. Loading Stored Value onto your Compass Card is just like adding cash to your card, so you can pay-as-you-go". (www.compasscard.ca) 

Now there's 2 kinds of compass cards: blue for adult and orange for concession or HandyCard. 

 

"Eligible for HandyCard holders are seniors 65 years and older and youth 14 to 18 years with valid photo identification proving age, and children 5 to 13 years. Children under 5 years ride free when accompanied by an adult (maximum 4 children per adult)". 

For passengers who wish to use a single ticket, a compass ticket is also available but not reloadable. 

 

Fare is as follows: 

 

Source: compasscard.ca 

With this so much info from the website and campaign ads, there are still people (sadly) who don't take things seriously! 

Going back to North Vancouver after filing one document to the consulate office and sending it to the Philippines took me 45minutes and going back, I'm taking the same route of taking the seabus then bus 239 to work. This will take me less than an hour should I take the cab to my workplace from Phibbs Exchange. 

I was sitting quietly near the exit when a huge man in his dark blue uniform just popped up inside the seabus a minute after it took off. 

 

He asked every passenger of their compass card for checking. Now this scenario isn't so common! Police or transit security are seen around bus/seabus stations but them doing random check isn't a routine especially at this  unlikely not-so-busy hour of the day. Random spot check is done by scanning the card thru their own scanning machine. And what does that mean when a passenger is caught using the wrong compass card? "Didn't you know that it has severe penalty that comes with it?", said he to my seatmate, a normal adult who was busted for having bought a single concession ticket. Speaking in his Russian accent, he tried to explain that he's "new here and doesn't know". The security guy talked louder and slower, trying to explain to him that the card he bought wasn't the right one for him. He tried to have him talk and admit that he bought the cheaper ticket to save money but the guy can barely speak English. Words were few and hand gestures frequent as he tried to convince this transit police that he can barely understand the language and insisted he really don't know what a concession is and what's that for. The tansit security explained that he can be penalized with a hefty $123.00 as fine. Tho' the man tried to stay calm and listened intently, I can tell that he's nervous and agitated. After the big guy in uniform told him the consequences of being fraudulent with compass cards, he then moved on to my side and checked my card. 

 

Well, he must not in the mood to penalize anyone he caught (4 of them actually) today! He just reminded them that the next time they get into any of  translink's mode of transportation, they should purchase the right compass card and fare to avoid penalty. These guys were lucky to have gotten away. But this isn't only a reminder for them, it's also a lesson learned for me. Many times, my sister would remind me to always load my compass card and not to forget to tap it to get in and when I'm exiting. She'll always say that once caught, it isn't only the penalty that's the issue, the record of having been fraudulent can also sever my work status in the country. "Put this in mind, Better be safe than sorry" were her way of saying obey the rules! 

Character indeed is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught. Lucky was that guy! He got away with this today but I hope he learned a great lesson from his experience. I did!

Looking from afar, I'm just glad that I'm back at North Shore! It's been a long morning for me on one Monday morning. 

 

*The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. ~ Robert H. Schuller