Public Transportation

So, I just created a category called “Singapore”. I figured I’d be blogging on that topic a lot, and so thought I’d organize it that way.

The public transportation of Singapore definitely has to be one of the best in the world. Its efficiency is amazing. You know if you have a good system in place if you can’t easily think of ways to improve it. I still can’t think of any improvements!

Basically, its trains and buses. The trains (called MRT) have 3 lines – North-South, East-West and North-East. They connect most of Singapore. The frequency of trains is amazing. And the frequency adjusts according to the peak hour, holiday/weekend etc (this is true for buses as well). I believe during peak hour, the train frequency is 3 minutes. Off peak is 6 minutes. All trains and buses are air-conditioned (anything that can be A/C’ed is A/C’ed in Singapore). The train system is very easy to use and it’ll take about a couple of train rides to get a hang of it. Buses is more complicated. You need to know where to get onto a bus, where to get down, where to transfer, if at all necessary. There are websites to help, the bus driver is usually helpful as well. All Bus stops have route maps, bus service numbers operating, timings, frequency, etc (All bus stops have names and also numbers to identify them if you want to use their website that way). There are several double-decker buses as well. And they optimized the bus rides very well – For example, all buses have these ‘stop’ buttons on all the seats/holding rods. The passengers have to press the stop button indicating that they want to get off at the next bus stop, otherwise, the bus doesn’t stop there and keeps going. Of course if there people waiting at the bus stop, and they are holding their hand out, that means they want to get on the bus, so the bus driver stops the bus there (The people waiting at the bus stop have to hold out their hand, otherwise the bus driver doesn’t know that they are waiting for his/her bus and keeps going). During peak hour, the buses pretty much stop on all stops (as someone has to get on or get down), but this optimization works amazingly during off-peak hours as the bus keeps going by several stops without stopping.

And then there are those nice conveniences – most buses have TV’s where you can watch the news (esp. in the mornings), so thats nice – catching up on news on the way to work. For double decker buses, it says near the stairs on an LCD display how many empty seats are available at the upper deck, so you can check before taking the stairs up.

They really thought of everything. So, for example, at the train stations, while you approach the station, they have those electronic signs which tell you when a train is arriving (so for ex. it’ll say, next train east bound 2 minutes or 1 minute), so based on that, you can hurry up and make it on time to board it. And the trains just stop for a few seconds. So, you have to be ready to get down or board when it arrives.

And finally, there are several ‘feeder’ buses and ‘shuttle’ buses, to and from popular shopping malls, less accessible housing areas, etc.

US or Singapore?

So, the other day, my wife’s friend asked me a simple question -now that I am in Singapore for a month or so, which life is better? US life or Singapore?

Granted I only lived in Singapore for a month now and about 11 years in US before, but I did give her an equally simple answer. I said “Singapore, of course”. I added that “Well, if I didn’t think so, why would I come here in the first place?”

My answer was simple because I answered based on how I felt, rather than doing a complex analysis of all the pros and cons of life in US and Singapore. Infact, such an undertaking is almost impossible and/or flawed. You can’t compare all the various aspects of life like that, its too complex. You just go with what is most important for you, and make sure the rest of the areas are ‘reasonably satisfactory’. To me, the biggest sell of Singapore(over US) is its geography. Its close to India. A little over a 4 hour flight to Hyderabad. Thats wonderful. And I’d like to add that I had a great time in the US. Its a great country. I never hated living there, even for a minute.

They say that “You don’t know how much you’ll miss something until you lose it”. I say “You don’t know how much you’ll not miss something until you lose it”. 😉

Anyways, I am sure I’ll have more to say/write on this issue.

my birthday

My first birthday in Singapore was fun! The extra special feature of this bday was that after 11 years, I celebrated the bday with my Sister!

It was hilarious how events unfolded yesterday – My wife planned a surprise party for me at my place in the evening – I was told that we’d go out and that I was supposed to meet her at Dhobi Ghaut exchange at 7. But I was getting bored in the office around 5 and thought I’d go home – when I came home, I surprised her! She was busy blowing balloons, decorating, etc with her friend. I guess I ruined it for her. But the fun part started here – She invited my sister and my cousin – So, we didn’t tell them that I was already home, and so when they came home, I was hiding in the kitchen, I listened to them planning out the details of how to surprise me, and I sprung out from the kitchen and shocked them! (this happened twice, once with my Sis and again when my brother-in-law came). It was good fun.

Starbucks

Man, Starbucks is so expensive everywhere!

I paid $5.10 for a Iced Caffe Latte the other day! And I was not even forced by anyone to go to Starbucks! How do they do it?!

Singapore

So, its been about a month since we moved to Singapore. I like it! (Notice that in the first sentence, I used ‘we’ and in the second, its ‘I’).

I like to think of Singapore as a City and not a Country. When I do that, I feel real good about Singapore. My sister doesn’t like it when I say that, and she says ‘Wait till you see the National Day Parade’ and you’ll start seeing Singapore as a Country. Well, perhaps. I believe the parade is quite grand, with the Army, helicopters, the works, basically. I’ll watch it on TV. Its on August 9th.

So, anyways, I always had fascination for big cities. Lots of people, lots of trains/buses. People walking fast. Eating places at all corners (not to mention Starbucks!). Well, Singapore has it all. Singapore has all the things I consider as needed for a big city, a great city. And that includes diversity of the people – Singapore has a great mix of all the different races.

Public transportation is amazing. The buses and the trains connect the city from corner to corner. And the planning of the city is great. Most of the major train stations directly lead into buildings – office buildings, shopping complexes, etc. The downside – u don’t even see the sun!

It as if they built a city in the underground! So, there are two cities – one under ground and one on the ground. Well, I am exaggerating, but you get my point.

And another thing I want to mention about Singapore with I like a lot – the trees! Because of the tropical climate, the whole place is lush with trees – and all kinds of them – banana trees, palm trees, bamboo trees, those big trees on Yio Chu Kang Rd (don’t know what they are), etc etc. And near my Sisters house in Hougang, there are mango trees on the street, which hundreds of green mangoes dangling (not reachable, you have to climb the tree to get to them). I am not sure, but I think anyone can climb and get them I think.

I was reminded of how, as a child, me and my friends had to steal mangoes from the house across from where I was living.

First post

Alright!

Finally!

One has to live in the times one is living in! Web 2.0 et al! Especially, me being a software engineer by profession, and one who likes to put thoughts into words! I am starting on my blogging journey today. July 4th! Happy independence day, America!

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