Thursday, July 22, 2010

Typhoon Season: The first black rain in HK

Was out in causeway bay in the afternoon. Didnt know what was the thunderstorm signal.

Since I needed to rush back to cook, I didnt have a choice but to stand in the almost horizontal rain lashing at me while waiting for the cab outside Times Square.
It was a long agonising wait. I didnt realise that the rain warning changed from Amber to Black within 10mins while I was in the Q! I thought the rain felt really bad, and I almost had half the mind to get out of the line but sicne I was so close to the front after waiting for 40mins, I didnt feel like giving up.

At exactly 5.30pm, I looked at my watch. It wasnt later at night watching the news that I learnt the warning signal had changed from amber to black at that moment.

While I was waiting and it reached my turn to be at the front, it was already 5.54pm.
10 mins have passed since the last cab. A heavily pregnant woman with a little girl in tow went up to the front and asked the taxi stand warden if she could cut the line.The guy asked her to seek my permission since I was first in line.

She called out to me and explained she is pregnant and had a child, so if I mind letting her go first?
I had a 30secs conflict. I have been in the line for 40mins, and each cab takes every 10mins to come in this rain. If I let her go first, that may mean another 20mins wait!

The evil devil in me was thinking that if she is in such a hurry, then she should just call for a cab.
However, the angelic side of me won the battle and I nodded agreeing to let her go first.

As the man behind me glared at my decision, I had a 2 secs self doubt if I was being stupid but then, I shook the feeling out because I figure since Iam already half drenched in the rain, another 20mins wont kill me since there is no lightning and thunder.Luckily i was in flip flops and shorts, so it had just felt like I was in a tropical rain shower. It didnt feel too bad honestly.

The next cab came in next 5 mins. Perhaps good deed deserves a good turn. My luck changed for the better because 2 cabs came together which was rare. So I got into the cab the same time as the pregnant lady with her child. I didnt "lose" any time afterall. However, the man behind me gave me that glare because he prob was thinking he would have been on the cab if it wasnt for me letting the woman board first.
Oh well...

During the whole time, the person who suffer most is probably the guy stationed at the taxi stand, controlling the taxi Q and offering shelter to the passengers who board the cab. What a tough job!

1 comment:

elisa said...

Good for you TvADddict. It is confirmed that in the world chivalry is indeed dead. I remember I was in the hospital, 4 months pregnant and waiting my turn to have an ultrasound done. Big (am not little) ol'me all alone (had issues with the hubby that day) and a lot of couples were waiting for their turn to be scanned. An older lady 60ish came and was standing since most of the men decided that they should sit beside their love ones (hint of envy) wouldn't give up theirs. Finally since I couldn't take watching her suffer, I stood up and gave up my seat. It took 10 minutes before I got a seat but I didn't mind and had a pleasant chat with the older lady who kept me "lonely self" entertained till it was my turn. Had my scan and when I came out to settle my fees, I was told that it was paid for. Sweet sweet lady paid for it. Call it karma, good luck...I always believe that so many is accomplished when we pay forward. She not only made my supposed to be lonely day pleasant but was in such a good mood the entire night...which my hubby who was expecting to get a lashing from the hormones surge didn't expect.

I always love it when it is the rainy season. I guess I am the few people left in the world who doesn't mind getting wet. Everything feels and smells clean after the storm. (Of course the aftermath debris has to be swept away and put things in order.) But still there is something to look forward to after the rain. If you look at the sky, stars are much clearer and clouds are whiter.

Anyway, I can now put Skip Beat as my number 1 favorite anime. Japanese authors have a way of writing in a pure and uncynical themes which I enjoy a lot. I am so looking forward to seeing it in a drama. Catching up with you in hotaru no hikari and coffee house.