78

After a loooooooooooooong break I am here again.Read a few other blogs recently that complained of too many people refering to themselves as 'bloggers' simply because it is hip to blog nowadays.Am beginning to wonder whether I fall into that category......well,am atleast going to try not to!!

Now coming to 78.Yesterday,after almost a full day's work,I decided to spend some time at Clementi.My favourite activity in Clementi is to just walk along the row of shops and look at the stuff.I hardly buy anything but checking out everything is a pleasureable activity.I usually treat myself to a waffle with chocolate cream but yesterday I decided to have a chocolate rum ball instead.Anyway,after ambling to my heart's content,came to the bus stop to get back home.My destination was Jurong East.Saw this bus 78 pull up at the stop with it's final destination posted as Jurong East.I had never taken this bus before.Jurong East is about 3 kms from Clementi.So I figured how bad can this get......it will probably take a route I haven't been on but will get me there.So I get into the bus......still biting into my rum ball and settle down.There were only 2 other passengers but I didn't think too much about that.Am glad when there are fewer people anyway.

The bus resumed it's journey and took it's first turn away from the direction towards Jurong East.Didn't think much of it since there are many ways to get to a spot in Singapore and buses are the masters of these alternate routes.Bus continued and took it's second turn now moving further away from my destination.I walked up to the driver to check if this bus did go to Jurong East.The driver was a woman dressed in the bus company's uniform of a sky blue shirt and black pants.She was one fashionable Chinese lady with sun glasses and make up and was actually adjusting her hair at this signal (!!) when I approached her.With a nod of her head she confirmed that this bus did go to Jurong East.So I went back and took my seat.

The bus was now winding it's way through a rather deserted looking expressway.By now I was convinced that this was going to be some ride.We were on a road called Perjuru road.I have lived in Singapore for quite a while and hadn't heard of this place!!As the bus rolled on,I realised this was turning out to be probably the cheapest sight-seeing trip in the city.Looking out of my window,I felt that these parts were probably the closest to what one would call a countryside in Singapore.For most of this stretch we were only 2 passengers in the bus.As we went along,I realised that this was the Jurong Industrial Estate area (atleast we were in Jurong!!).There were all shipping and handling companies and containers and containers as far as the eye could see.Stacked like my nephew's Lego blocks.

Finally the bus came onto a road that I recognised-Jurong Town Hall road.A couple of minutes and it reached the Jurong East interchange where I got off.A journey that would have normally taken about 10 mins and cost me $0.63 took more than 30 mins and cost $1.03!!!Anyway,it was an interesting trip and has reinforced my love for public transport buses.I firmly believe that certain parts of the city as well as its people are best seen through a bus window.This time however,I knew my final destination.Next time,may be I should just hop onto a bus and see where it takes me.......what say??