My morning commute is, among other things, early and nervewracking. It's common in Singapore, when the workplace is in a location that is not convenient for public transportation, for the company to provide at a minimum shuttles from relatively cental locations and, if you're lucky, vouchers for taxis. I'm not so lucky.
For over a year I would get to the shuttle that, although convenient, was a pain to get to. By pain I mean one infrequent public bus followed by a walk around the corner and 2 trains. Then last summer great news. .. they were adding one shuttle to a subway stop not too far from my apartment. Great! The catch? Only one that leaves at 6:50 a.m. That is my current morning ride. I take the infrequent public bus around 8 minutes, hop off and right there catch the shuttle. 30 minutes later and I'm at work on the western edge of Singapore.
Today, however, I cut it too close. Using my handy dandy app I saw from my apartment at 6:15 that the bus was coming in 7 minutes or 23 minutes. I opt for the latter. This way I don't have to wait for 15+ minutes standing in the dark and, more importantly, I get to see my kids. At least wake them up. Which I did.
I know I'm cutting it close and, had I not had the slowest, most careful bus driver ever, I would have made it but alas... as I arrived to the stop at 6:50 on the dot I saw the work shuttle pull out into the dawn light NOOOOOO!
So onto the subway to somewhat replicate my commute of days past. I get a seat and realize that of the seven people sitting in my area and the seven across from me, I am the only woman and the only non-Asian. Yes I realize I am in Asia but in Singapore usually there are westerners on transportation (case in point the bus).
By the time I got off the train around 20 minutes later, there were 3 other women in my little section. And of the 14 people at least 7 were sleeping. Unbelievable. But that's another topic.
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| The subway system in Singapore. You tap a card on the way in and tap on the way out. Price depends on distance with discounts for kids and seniors. Travel across half the country. .. about 35 minutes. .. costs about $ US 1.50. I have a credit card that works for the transport. .. automatically adds money in increments. |
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| After tapping out at Jurong East must walk across a walkway to the bus pickup area. I should get a fitbit. |
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| Snack? |
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| Very typical Singapore... somebody selling tissues. ..30 cents a pack. .. |
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| on the ramp approaching the chaotic bus pickup area |
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Finally at work. .. about 30 minutes later than had I caught the first shuttle by my house but that's ok.
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Thankfully I was listening to This American Life which made it all ok.
And upon arriving at work. .. they have my favorite noodle soup this morning. There's hope!
