bUs rideS in SG

been observing how the locals here behave while boarding the public buses and also, their behaviour on the bus, these past 2 weeks here...
i must say, the differences between how we do it DownUnder vs. SG is glaringly.... *makes a face* well... can't really find a word to use here right now but, ah well... let's see:-

boarding the bus
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you know how we're always reminded to Q up, wait your turn, practice courtesy, respect the elderly and let 'em board 1st, yadda yadda yadda....
hurhurhur.... i think its totally wasted on ppl here....
Q to board the bus??? bah! even before the buses pull into the actual boarding area at the bus-stop, i see ppl jostling for what they reckon would be the best spot - the spot where the bus would most likely stop and open its front doors right in front of them so they'll be the 1st to board the bus.

let the elderly board 1st? *rolls eyes* i was on 197 last weekend when the bus pulled up at a stop along Bt. Merah. about 10 ppl crowded round at the front of the bus-stop wanting to board - 9 young, well-dressed, able-abodied ppl; at the BACK of the crowd, was an old man with a tongkat (!!!), waiting to board the same bus as well!!!!!!!!!!! WTF! to make things worst, just when the old man was about 2 steps away from finally getting to board the bus, these 2 teenagers come running up to catch 197, and without so much as a glance at the old man, squeezes past him and boards the bus 1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tamaaaaaaaaaaaaade!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE THEY BLIND OR WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i think of all the times back DownUnder, when we wait our turn to board the buses, when the gentlemens step aside to let the ladies thru' 1st (this i've encountered SO MANY TIMES! the guys would let me board the bus before them if they realise i'm last in line... hurhur... i think they fear i'm too short and need to find a seat or move towards the back of the bus instead of hanging by the door. hurhur!), when parents with children in line tell them to "let the nice old lady board 1st...", when i smile and indicate for the other party on the other side of the open door to board 1st (especially when she has huge bags of shopping in her arms) before i climb up the bus after her...

why is it so difficult for ppl HERE to practice a little courtesy??? like honestly! would it kill them???

on the bus
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i've noticed back in Syd, whenever we board the bus and there are empty seats available, we take the seats inside - the ones nearer the windows, so that the aisle seats are left free for the next passenger. this makes looking for a seat heaps easier eh?

but in SG, ppl like to hang onto that aisle seat! and they're reluctant to let anyone else take the empty seat next to them!!! i've seen it with my own eyes! heaps of times!!! these ppl get on the bus, grab the empty seats by taking up the aisle seat, then when the bus rolls round to the next stop and passengers start boarding, the person in the aisle seat looks out the windows, stares at the floor, has a shut-eye.... anything really, to pretend not to see that someone else actually wants that empty seat inside!!!!!!!!!! like duh!!! what's up with that?!!

have you ever went up a bus and felt you wouldn't find an empty seat and so remain standing somewhere near the middle of the bus until half-way thru' your journey, a couple of tall, huge guys get off their seats and off the bus and THEN you realise that all along there had been an empty seat behind the big fellas but you just couldn't see it cos it was blocked? why didn't anyone at the back at least try to indicate to you that there were actually available seats eh?? so often back in Syd, i've had friendly, kind ppl seating at the back of the bus, PEOPLE I DO NOT KNOW MIND YOU!!!, signalling and indicating to me that empty seats were available at the back, sometimes holding up a number of fingers to show how many seats were available if i was travelling with friends. these little acts of kindness..... how often do you see it here?? i've certainly never! i hardly even see ppl giving up their seats to those who might need it more than they do! bah!! i'm glad i gave up my seat the other day.... hmmph! at least i think for others =P

there's obviously heaps more i could pen down on the differences i've observed... 9 outta 10 of them which makes the practices in SG look sOOOooooooo awful (no surprises there eh?) but i'm waaaaaaaaay too tired now... have not exactly recovered from the weeks' bout of nausea, gastric pains etc...

going out for dinner tomorrow so i'd best get some rest.... will have to be prepared to face those above-mentioned... hurhurhur...........