Train Ride

I ride the rail transit once a day, five times a week to get to work. Everyday is a different adventure. I get to see people from all walks of life. I enjoy looking at them: how they dress, talk, laugh and stand. Nevertheless, here are few of the things I learned in riding the train from Monday to Friday:

1. More often than not, the train is always overcrowded with people. The fun part is you will not stumble despite the movement of the train because the passengers are like sardines contained in a can. It's all about how you balance as the train make its stop. The not-so-fun part is smelling the human odor (meaning: sweat, breath and dirt).

2. I learned how to stretch my limbs to reach its farthest. As usual, the train is jump packed with people so I need to grip the nearest railing even though it is two feet away from me.

3. Multitasking is not an easy thing to do. But if you ride the train several times a week, it becomes easy. I learned altogether how to fold my umbrella, carry my bag and slide the ticket on the machine in less than a minute.

4. Nowadays, being gentlemen to the ladies is slowly disappearing on men's set of values. Some men riding on the train will not give away their seats for pregnant or old women. They rather sit back, relax and tinker their PSPs/cellphones.

5. I find simple joys in life by merely observing passengers. I liked how a young father hold his baby; how a lady slumped to sit on the train floor without caring about the people around and a college student who suddenly puked while on his way out of the station because he seemed drunk.

Riding the train is really an enjoyable experience. It adds a little twist and turn to my own journey in the urban life.

*Photo taken three or four years ago when LRT 2 was fresh and new (and not crowded).