My dorky lingo key:
public transporation= p.t.
mode of transporation= m.o.t.
We'll start with the furthest from home: Vietnam. I went to visit my cousins there this past January and it was phenomenal!!! Since their personal m.o.t. is a motorbike...
...we alternated taking taxis and the local bus. WOW, what a different world for me! My taxi experience over there wasn't too much different initially than taxis in the states. Although seat belts are not enforced, the drivers are still extra crazy but for the most part get you where you need to go.
Here's one of our taxis now!
We did use the motorbike a few times, but mainly just so that we could get the whole 'Vietnam' experience! It was crazy, thank goodness Dennis (my cousin) is a good driver!!
Onto the bus we go! After crossing a few streets, (you cross by forming a wall of people and just start walking as the cars and motos fly around you) we got to our bus stop. While waiting for the bus I definitely felt like a tourist because lots of people would just stare. It's not considered rude there to stare so I tried not to be bothered by it. Also while waiting for the bus it wasn't uncommon that we saw someone peeing...AH! One man was peeing on the side of the road and then came over to us and started touching my little cousins faces telling them how cute they were!!! That was too much for me, and I'm not really a germ-a-phobe! haha anyways, so as soon as we'd see our bus number coming I was told to just PUSH your way on as fast as possible and get in that bus. Sure enough, people flooded out and in of the little bus and most bus drivers there will just start driving regardless of whether people are half way in or barely hanging on! Once you're inside the bus and settled, then a little man comes around and collects the fares since this is much faster than everyone paying one by one as they get on the bus. The bus rides are SO cheap, I think I calculated it to be about 15 cents a ride. Amazing!
Because of the affordability, most every time we got on the bus it was PACKED full. I appreciated very much that for the most part people would always give up there seat for an elderly person or a mother with her kids. The other interesting thing while on my Vietnamese bus was that if it wasn't too full we would get in trouble for talking. Being chatty girls, we would be talking away and not too long after we'd get a shhh and stink eye from the fare collector. Clearly though once the bus was packed with people it didn't matter quite as much. I loved riding the bus there and it was absolutely a neat way to be up close and personal with the people who live there!!
And I'm not exaggerating when I say up CLOSE...
...literally someone on every side of me.
Overall, the bus ride there for me was a rush and was not my normal relaxing, nap inducing environment! If you're ever in Asia, I'd definitely recommend traveling this way.
Coming back a little closer to home, earlier this month I went to Boston. My friends live in the middle of downtown and are only there temporarily so they don't have a car. From the moment I arrived I was graced with their very own SUBWAY! Loved it. I really knew I was on the east coast when my first m.o.t. was underground. So savy.
Here I am on the subway with my sweet little friend :)
After much walking on our second day, we decided to take the bus home. The thing that was AWESOME about Boston's p.t. was that you can buy a card, there called a 'Charlie' card, in the subway station, load it up with money and then use it for the subway and the bus. Everything was so convenient and it made each step happen so quickly and efficiently. Because of the effortless mode of entry for each system, I noticed that the bus would get packed quick! It was filled with people of all ages, whether it was a Harvard student on their way home or an older adult with an arm full of groceries. Here I really saw a variety, showing me that it was simple and worth it for those people to take the bus rather than deal with driving. Back home, I feel like it's more looked at as a hassle to take the bus and in reality probably not as convenient as other places. Ok, off my soap box. :) So one night coming home from Cambridge, while sitting in my comfy seat, I noticed the bus really starting to fill up. I was trying to take a picture without disturbing people...aka letting them know I was taking it, and this was the only shot that kind of showed the amount of people actually there.
I loved how the subway went all over the city to stay down away from the cold air above. The buses were also quite handy and I did see some taxis around as well. Point being, if there is a good p.t. system set up people WILL use it. Get with it, my sweet state of CA, get with it!
Love, Bus Girl
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