The years I’ve been working also represent the years I’ve been riding
the train. In that span of time, I have my own long list of both
misadventures and rare happy memories. If only I have taken blogging
seriously, I could already have a deep archive of train stories.
Perhaps, another blog to begin with.
Setting aside the blogging regrets, here’s a preview of my train
experiences over the last years. As much as I want to document my unique
and memorable experiences, I’m still organizing and recalling my long
list. For now, I’m enumerating the frequent observations I gained from
my sleepy, exhausting, annoying, (insert all emotions here) that kept me
company in my daily lone train rides.
- Around half of the passengers alienate themselves with ear plugs attached to their portable music devices (I include myself with my ever defunct but reliable third gen iPod nano)
-
There’s always a fellow passenger wearing Chuck Taylor (I wasn’t a fan of Chuck’s not until I discovered that I would feel years younger while wearing them. So count me in now.)
- Someone is always sleepy, asleep, about to fall asleep on your shoulders (If that someone is Jeremy Lin, Song Seung-heon, Lee Byung-hun, I wouldn’t mind then. *evil and lustful smile haha*)
- There’s always a female passenger sporting a fake Longchamp (Yes, I learned how to spot one.)
- Females in full make up, ironed straightened hair and dressed in tailor fitted uniform are wearing slippers or plastic shoes (Count me in on those wearing slippers, but never the glamor to begin with.)
- In a span of a week, bad words will erupt from your mouth because someone stepped on your new pair or polished shoes (I only utter bad words in my mind. When I started teaching, I became afraid a student might hear and see me.)
- People always block the space near the door’s entrance
- While the area in the door’s entrance gets crowded, the middle part of the train can accommodate another flock of passengers
- Big men are seated while a frail female passenger is struggling to find balance and exerting her best effort not to make another embarrassing moment
- Men also fight and push away people for the much coveted seat in the first station (Hey Ladies, Men are fighting for equal rights)
- The humongous K-9 dogs are so tame. Setting aside their frightening built, they appear to me as quiet pet dogs. Like the one owned by Reese in Legally Blonde. I almost find them cute not until I discovered that they smell so terrible.
- The staircase leading to the station is filled with huge advertisement from Smart. As I head to the waiting area, the approaching train is entirely covered by ads from Globe.
- The irregular escort guard of each coach always carries a hardbound logbook that painfully landed on my feet many times.
- Men can’t prevent themselves from staring at fair skinned long legs. (Gentlemen from the Philippines, be thankful because Philippines haven’t fully turned as Thailand)
- I can always catch a woman discretely making glances to a tall, handsome and well dressed male passenger. (
I’m not guilty) - An empty coach that skipped several stations makes everyone feel that they’ve won something from the lottery. (Especially after a long day at work)
PS This post was originally posted in my other hidden blog ;)
Hi Diane,
ReplyDeleteoh dear, your train rides sound frustrating! This brings back a few memories of my own riding the train when I still worked in the big city. Someone always stepped on my foot and the exit was always blocked. So annoying!
What other hidden blog ? ;-)
Hope you enjoy your weekend!
1. Ewan ko kung bakit takot akong naka-earphone sa labas or sa byahe, pakiramdam ko kasi nagiging less attentive ako sa paligid kaya baka may mangyaring masama lol :)
ReplyDelete3. hahaha :)
7-8. Korek! Ang hirap tuloy minsan lumabas or pumasok... ayoko rin mapunta sa gitna kasi feeling ko mahihirapan na ako makalabas hehehe.
15. I bet, hindi ka talaga guilty mam diane hahaha :)
Hindi talaga hahaha
Delete1. i cannot travel without music, no matter how short the ride is
ReplyDelete2. always in love with chucks. :)
LOL at #16. :D
PS: if only train ride in manila would be as comfy and safe as singapore's.. hayyyy.
When I went to SG, the trains are the first to impress me... Kung pwede lang iuwi sa manila... Yung tipong kahit hindi ka mag taxi, eh pwedeng pede sa train. Eh dito try mo yung may maleta at sumakay ng LRT /MRT papuntang airport hahaha
DeleteHahahahahaha! I love this post! Years back, I travel from Bulacan to P'que everyday and ride the LRT to get to work. Lahat eto ay totoo. This is especially true for me: "Someone is always sleepy, asleep, about to fall asleep on your shoulders." Ako yung someone na yun. Madami-dami rin akong naging shoulder buddies, or rather, victims. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI used to be #3! Like I had even received a Friendster (yes, a Friendster!) testimonial that says "Antukin!"
ReplyDeletekasi nasa harap ko lang pala siya throughout.
I rarely take train rides but it does irk me when people choose to crowd around train doors -- even when the coach is not full and their designated train stops are still far away. I also tend to strap on my earphones and close my eyes (even when I'm not sleepy) when I'm seated. It helps pass the time, and it's a nice way to take your mind off from the fact that you're squeezed into a very small squeeze with strangers.
ReplyDelete