Odd day

[Steve1960]

It's like how everybody starts queuing to get on a plane 10-15min before boarding is even scheduled.

My seat is confirmed, I have a boarding pass, I am not carrying the kitchen sink that I need to squeeze into a pokey overhead "bin" (don't even get me started on them calling it THAT) and the plane will not leave without me, with me sitting at the gate.

The Captain himself would most probably leave the aircraft and hand carry me to my seat before wasting the 30min required to off load my bags in the hold. Now, that would be service!

If I'm not walking on through via the Priority Boarding announcement then I'm usually nearly last......and all the more relaxed for it.

It is the same in Malaysia with the highway tolls. The guys are flying at 210kph on the N-S then sit 30min at a toll booth to pay cash. My SmartTag and I both say "Thank You" and smile.

Have to disagree. I travel hand luggage only and on many flights I line up early because I know the overheads are going to be rammed full and I can't check in my bag as at least half of the contents are electronics.

Oh, and no my bag is not 'oversize' for carry on

[Edroche]

We went over to Batam last weekend. On the way back we were queuing for immigration at the harbour prior to departure, and since we arrived a bit early we were near the front, maybe 20th or so. We were outside, it was hot and uncomfortable, and there was no seating for the 200-odd manifest/pax.

A SGn* auntie simply walked up past 100+ people, and joined the queue right in front of us. What do you do, do something, or ignore it? Well, it was so egregious I couldn't just ignore it. Plus I was hot and tired so not in the mood for such stuff. So I jabbed her several times on the shoulder, and when she turned around I said 'Oi, you, BACK!' gesturing with my thumb. And indeed that's what she did, moving back some way in front of some people who presumably didn't care.

Once through immigration with everyone ambling down the jetties to the boat, the said auntie hammered past us at such speed I couldn't help but burst out laughing. A classic example of 'Must win!' And indeed when we came to board she had put herself in the #1-kiasu seat right next to the entrance doorway. We were in the row in front on the other side. For almost the entire journey (50 mins) she was doing a fixed laser-beam stare to the rear/side of my head. Jeez, something had really p'd her off! Maybe she didn't like that despite her 'having won', my wife and I were too happy and not projecting a sense of defeat.

Anyway, that would have been the end of the story, but for one unexpected irony. When we came in to dock, we docked on the opposite side to that we embarked through: The side nearest to us. So in the end divine justice played it's hand, and we left her for dust




*she was holding a SGn passport.

Good on ya. The government putting stickers on MRT doors/windows will never replace people keeping eachother in check as happens in other big cities. Having said that I think that it has got better to an extent as a result of these campaigns. But it's taken about 8 years from my observations. As for the aunties, check back in 20-30 years but the middle aged women are not great either. In general on this topic, to expect is to be disappointed. Personally having lived here for 8 years, it is a disappointing society that is going though puberty. As an experience, it hasnt changed over time.

[Primrose Hill]

I was queueing up at a bookstore a few weekends ago, ready to pay. Along came this Malay lady with her daughter and just cut in front of me, then another causcasian lady, this Malay lady looked at me with a sheepish impish look. I tapped on her shoulders told her the where the queue was. I did the same to the Mat Salleh lady too. Mat Salleh looked at me and gave me a dirty look. WT.....f?

[morenangpinay]

i just had to post

we just watched the most recent ballet under the stars production in fort caning park. you need to bring a picnic mat and there's no seating arrangement. we were getting ready to spread our mat and the lady with kids and grandma sitting on the space just after the space we were standing on told us "ey if you want to sit there we move".

i was so surprised I didn't expect people watching ballet would behave like that lol.so i said if you wanted to sit here. sit here!. and we exchanged spaces it turned out ours had a better view since it was elevated.

[chris_pilgrim]

Another odd thing that bugs me ... those 'reserved seats' for the elderly on the MRTs ...

Did you all notice that most passengers avoid sitting on those 'reserved seats'? (Although there are complaints about people not giving up those seats to the elderly or pregnant ladies), it makes me so conscious when i sit on those 'reserved seats' that i begin to avoid sitting them nowadays

[JR8]

Another odd thing that bugs me ... those 'reserved seats' for the elderly on the MRTs ...

Oh no, those seats are for people who urgently have to catch up on their sleep (it seems), able bodied or not.

I'm certainly entitled to one... but just can't be arsed with the hassle over trying to claim my right to one... vs someone pretending to be asleep, who thinks it's all a kiasu game.

In the West most people would be ashamed to behave like this; not here.

[JR8]

Another odd thing that bugs me ... those 'reserved seats' for the elderly on the MRTs ...

Oh no, those seats are for people who urgently have to catch up on their sleep (it seems), able bodied or not.

I'm certainly entitled to one... but just can't be arsed with the hassle over trying to claim my right to one... vs someone pretending to be asleep, who thinks it's all a kiasu game.

In the West most people would be ashamed to behave like that; not here.