On the bus

Mel's mum & dad are here a for while which is cool. Last Friday they very graciously offered to look after Matilda so Mel & I could go out. We went to a smallish school do for a bit and then headed to Holland Village for dinner. Holland Village is a popular place for drinking and eating. We had Mexican for the first time in ages. It was great:) Thanks Grandma & Granddad!

As we were siting on the bus on the way home I was looking around at the other passengers. I realised that there were 3 or 4 of them that I see regularly on my way to school. Most people tend to go to work or school at around the same time each day so it makes sense that you would see them regularly. I think this is true of every commute I have had - from the super crowded trains in Japan to driving myself in Thailand and New Zealand to my bus trip here in Singapore.

As Mel and I talked about it I started to tell her about the different people I see regularly. There are of course my colleagues who live in the same area as me. No offence but they're kind of dull because I know who they are.

The first regular I noticed was "elegant Chinese lady". She is always impeccably dressed and always looks aggrieved to be travelling on public transport. Especially when she doesn't get a seat. There's also "wannabe elegant Chinese lady". Not quite as well dressed and less aggrieved about taking the bus.

One of my favourites is "surly uni student guy". He always sits in the same seat. And alway in the aisle seat with his bag on the window seat to stop other people sitting there. Most Singaporeans are too polite to try and sit next to him. But not the middle aged ladies. They have no problems in forcing him to get up and move his bag so they can sit down. In fact, I suspect they quite enjoy it:) But not him. The look on his face is pure anger. Cracks me up every time!

The other person that makes me giggle is "sleeping Malay woman", who travels on the Number 170. This bus runs from Johor Baru across the causeway in Malaysia right into the CBD. It carries the day labourers and others who do most of the shitty jobs like cleaning toilets. The 170 is always full. Always! And "sleeping Malay woman" must get on early because she is always in the same seat (in front of the exit door). And she is always asleep. Not just head down, eyes closed asleep. But full on, head back, mouth open asleep. I am positive she snores.

Another funny one is "cuddly teenage couple". They sit as close as humanly possible snuggled under a jacket. The air con is always on on the buses and sometimes it gets a touch chilly (even for chubby foreigners like me). But these kids are covered in goosebumps and shivering hard out. They have their arms around each other and the girl has her head buried in the guys neck. The first time, I was surprised when they got off and I saw that they were actually separate people.

There is one woman who I find somewhat disturbing. "Religious Korean woman" sits there with some of kind prayer book in her hands. I know she's Korean because the print on the cover is Korean. She has a kind of cycle. First she opens her book and reads something. Then she looks up and starts talking under her breath. I assume she's praying. Next she moves her head from side to side like she's stretching. Then she yawns. A big wide open mouth yawn. Then she she goes through cycle again. She usually manages 2 or 3 cycles before I get off.

Good times:)

T