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Hiya, just settled with my laptop. Now posting whatever I've blogged back then.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

8:46 AM

On the stupidly long way to work...

Missed a 154 bus on the attempt to skip the single-decked cruiser that always comes along whenever I am at the bus-stop. In the end, after enduring the hazy and humid morning, ANOTHER single-decked dwarf comes trotting along.

The morning ride via buses (3 different ones), will take me a good 100 minutes to reach my workplace! *sigh*

Let’s review on the bus services in Singapore.

SBS (The former self), started in 1978. Think that the main HQ was in Toa Payoh back then. Along the ever-jamming braddell road I would say. I used to stay in Toa Payoh when I am a kid. Interestingly, I had (ever) thought of becoming a bus captain when I am really young.

Now, bus captain! What a nice name. Do you think the Bus Captain gets paid well? Or do you think that the cab drivers actually have more income. Oh well, at least the cab uncle can chat with the customer up close and personal without others eavesdropping. And my, Xiaxue really hates Cab drivers ya. Well, that shall be our next topic for discussion, less I digress on.

Ok, back to the topic.

Now, the SBSTransit?

I would not have known that the MRT service line is owned by two different companies till I went on to check up the route services the other day. The North-South ad East West line is owned by the usual SMRT, whilst the latest North-East line is actually owned and run by the SBSTransit! Whoa, guessed not a lot of you people would have noticed that.

Have you ever encountered those kinda Bus Captains who simply wants to cruise on when they passed by a bus-stop as you know, when you break to a halt to fetch passengers, it gets quite difficult to accelerate again. So, they will try to ‘close one eye’ especially passing by those secluded stops. But should you really wave your hands frantically, then they bo-bian have to step on the brake hard and bring the cruising bus to a screeching halt. Now, everyone in the bus would be thinking that the one who flagged down that bus is really inconsiderate. Heh. When you managed to stop the Inconsiderate Bus Captain who just wants to cruise on, you will be blamed by the passengers for giving them a roller-coaster ride. No matter how it came out to be, you lose.

How about those times when you can’t get up the bus? Simply because that everyone would be having the getting-off-the-next-stop concept and would not move to the rear but clustered around the exit. Hey! That’s half the bus standing capacity gone! Singaporeans….

Ok, till later, I am reaching the Interchange le...

Thursday, March 24, 2005

8:34 AM

Oh great, another cab to work. This is the second time that I am doing this, this month.

Last time it costs me $17 with peak hour surcharge, let’s see how much it is today. (I am still in the cab typing this.

Oh well, might as well, take about the Cab industries.

- Interlude -

The news just mentioned that the ‘an an’ eggs have be produced illegally and because of that may cause cancer after prolonged consumption. Think that the major stores in Singapore actually caries them. Oh Well…. I loved eggs… Oh my…

Ok, back to the topic.

Luckily today got a cab with not such a talkative uncle. The journey till now is still very smooth sailing.

So the debate starts again once more. Do you think that the cab drivers got more then the bus drivers?

Oh well, I guessed that you can see the cab industry as ‘private sector’ in comparison to the ‘government sector’ of the bus industry. As a bus captain, you got fixed salary and bonuses. As cab drivers, you get what you (tried) to earn.

Of course, there may always be some shortcuts to that.

I am not in the industry so what I can say now are just my personal speculations with no basic for evidence and is only mentioned for discussion sake.

Let’s just begin from how cab drivers gets and can get their money.

Of course, the standard ones will be plowing thru the traffic, fighting for customers. It is always funny that the passengers always complained that there are not enough cabs, whilst the cab drivers complained that there are no customers!

Why is that so?

Simply because the cab drivers are doing things for their own convenience but disregarding the commuters. Example, they ALWAYS changes shift at 7:10. That is the ‘holy’ time for the students to get to school. Why does a student take a cab to school instead of taking a bus? Because they are LATE. And why are they late? Cos they cannot wake up in time or whatever reasons, but it’s because its 7:10, that’s why they are late. Earlier means they are not running late means no need to take cab.

Now when they need the cab, the cab drivers are changing shifts.

(To be continued as I have reached)

Friday, March 25, 2005

10:27 AM

*Yawns*

Just woke up.

Where were we yesterday? Oh yeah, the cab drivers.