For those who think their subway or train line is full. You ain’t seen nothin baby !
About a week ago, I went to see a couple of suppliers located in the north-west of the Jing, past the 4th ring road. The best way to get to the edge of the earth, is via subway. A taxi takes minimum 1 hour each way, and for those who suffer from car sickness like myself, it’s really not an option.
This lesson was learned the hard and messy way. Cab drivers here love to put pedal to metal, then slam on the brakes.
So I took a cab from work to the suppliers office close to CBD, and they drove us to the call centre out west. I sat in the front.
On the way back I took Line 10. See map below – showing start and finish points, highlighting stops 1, 3 & 5.
For a little perspective …
Stop 1.
Stop 3.
Stop 5.
Within 3 small stops the train is packed, like a tin of off sardines. Imagine yourself in 35 degrees, stinking (yes, stinky!) heat at around 70% humidity.
Getting off the train was yet another frightening experience, involving a lot of shouting and pushing people to move, who consequently end up outside of the train on the platform, just so peeps can get off. Wonder what the ratio is for people who successfully get back on ?!
It’s a charming experience, and not in the Collins dictionary kind of way.
November 20, 2013 at 10:08 am
When we were there I stood near the door so I had a chance of getting out. Within 3 stops I was sandwiched against the opposite door. I thought of crowd surfing to get out as I couldn’t speak Chinese. Instead I did breast stroke with my hands to part the sea of people!
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