:: braving it

I have forgotten what it was like taking the bus service. Today, I was reminded, in the most unanticipated way. And bus service does not refer to express bus service, air-conned, highway journey. It is the town bus service, wind-blow ventilation, dusty, old, rickety and loud. Yes, the sound coming from the engine, was loud, and got even louder when the driver had to accelerate.

No, taking the bus was not a norm for me, even during my schooling years. Probably the last time I remember taking the bus was maybe during outstation trips, whereby you have not much choice, if you want to travel cheaply. Yes, after getting the driving license, taking the bus became even more unthinkable for me. Town bus, that is.

But surprisingly, I enjoyed the journey. It wasn't like I had a wild time on them, yeah, I took two, but I did not have a bad time. My seats were surprisingly comfortable and the journey throughout was not bad. For a town bus service, going through little kampungs, and making necessary stops, it was, surprisingly, fairly smooth. No breakdown, or un-explaining rattlings from unknown areas of either buses. And not hot, at all. Dusty yes, but not hot. Maybe the fact that I took the journey in the morning helped.

And yes, I saw many little places which I would otherwise not see at all when I'm behind the car steering. Names long forgotten, which you would only associated with those malay folklores, came to view again. Some little towns which I would not at all pass by, always taking the safer, but more mundane route through the highway, are surprisingly not that backwards as I have thought all this while. Imagine, seeing a WetWorld somewhere along the way! That, I really did not expect!

So, yes, I was an interesting journey. Different characters, but all relying on the town bus service. Many towns, all too rely on the bus plying through their town to showcase their themselves. Uniqueness, plainness, all. Not so much, but who knows, once in a while, there might just be a stranded girl at the bus station, when she could not get the ticket for the best time for an express bus, opted to board one SOUTHERN bus and TAI LYE bus to get back in time for lunch. She wont' brag about it, but she would blog about it. And she certainly stood out, carrying a laptop bag, while others were with plastics bags, handbags, slingbags, or simply no bags.

And she made it on time. Thanks to one VV for the opportunity, thanks to one auntie and uncle for persuading, thanks for a driver for reminding, and thanks so much to one young thing, for her invaluable insights. Mostly, thanks to myself, for braving it to take this option.

You go, gal!