"I don't want to die."

That's the thought that made me abandon my ride, just 7 mins from where I started. Today was one day when I actually felt that it was BAD to have cycled. I rate this as one of the worst days on the bike. Ha ha.

I left my workplace in the pouring rain, thinking it would only be another simple swimming session. I was wrong. Constant flashes of lightning lit up my vision, thunder crackled just above the air, plus the open roads of Tuas introduced a very exposed feeling in me. Logically I new the chances were low: there were street lamps, towering trucks and other motor cyclists passing me all the time, but still I felt the physical sensations of impending danger too much to take.

And so I abandoned riding at the nearest sheltered bus stop. The roads at Tuas are gross. When it rains I cycle through puddles of brown water that cover my ankles when I pedal. I was already soaked wet, but thankful to be out of the lightning zone. As i sat there with my bike, lightning and thuder continued to sound amidst the constants sounds of trucks rushing past. I thought of taking a nap there to wait it out, but I wasn't in the mood for that. It was only 5pm. I had to be in church by 8pm so I was thinking of going home first...

As I waited helplessly my lonesome self, I realised how small and helpless i really was. And how abosultely petrifying nature could be. The sky, something so taken for granted, had suddenly turned into a monstrosity that could just kill me in a single flash. It was beyond comprehension how much energy was out there pouring through the sky, just by observing the frequency and the magnitude of light and sound. Yes, so I was there waiting for 30 plus minutes.

Soon, I gave up waiting. And because I had started to grow cold, plus the increased traffic density, I easily convinced myself to board bus 193. Yup, I hauled my bike up the bus. The remaining journey was absolutely misearble. It was cold, and the bus got really crowded. and the bus took 45mins to get to BOON LAY. I was going to die by then.

The lightning had ceased, but it was still raining. By the time I hopped onto the bike and set off, I was literally shivering uncontrollable as I cycled. IT WAS BAD. I thought I was either going to crash from my 'fits' or just die from hypothermia. I seeked comfort when I stopped behind the bus radiators. It was pretty pathetic. And finally I had to bail at some coffee shop I passed to eat some warm dinner. Sigh. Things got better only after then, when the rain finally ceased and my body got warm again after 15mins on the bike.

By the time I got home, it was past 8 pm. Some 3 hr journey I took home today huh....

Hope I don't wake up dead tomorrow. I really should invest in a rain jacket. Can't avoid the lightning issue though. Crap.