My Experience at the Singapore Metro

We had gone to Singapore on a holiday.....

I had never been on a Metro before and wanted to experience what it feels like to be in one especially in a foreign country.. The tube excited me, but the fear of being lost in an unknown country terrified me and hence prevented me from getting into one earlier

A few days went by and we did some sightseeing and I wanted to do some shopping so my friend dropped me off at the Takashimaya Mall, Singapore. At the Mall while shopping I realized there was a Metro running thru on the Basement. Oh, I'm happy now..always wanted to get into one... I mustered some courage and decided to go on a ride. (I had time & it was a just a momentary decision taken).... cos I know even if I get lost, I can still find my way back… It’s a famous Mall and one cannot get lost...

At the Metro Station, the lady at the help desk suggested I go up-to Marina Bay to get a feel of the tube.. She also suggested I buy a one way ticket, so in case I decide to take a stroll, I could do so and when I’m ready to get back, buy the return ticket back.. umm good suggestion.

My experience in the train was very strange, it was around 2.30pm, the tube was quite empty .. ….I recollected scenes from all the horror movies I’d seen and  various scenes were playing through my head.....everyone in the train looked alien to me. But that’s my imagination….To make it worse I got off at the wrong station…Raffles Station...

I am a chicken when it comes to travelling alone....At the Station, I couldn’t think for a minute.. Should I get back on the next train and go to Marina bay… Or should I just buy a ticket from Raffles back to Takashimaya mall.  I tried to get help finding the Help Desk, but I guess everyone was so busy with their time and schedule that no one offered to help.

I looked around, found an escalator and went upstairs, it was quite dimly lit and not a soul... I further went up another floor and saw the Help Desk
There, I explained my situation and said I wanted to buy a Ticket to get back to my entry point,Takashimaya Mall... The lady at the help desk very confidently told me that its alright if I didn't buy a ticket... She said I could just board the train and get back and her counterpart will let me in once I'm there. I stood there dumbstruck for a minute.... And then after the words had got digested,  my  question to her was "You don’t even know my name". She just looked at me, smiled and said "I will tell my colleague a beautiful Lady would pass and She will let you in" and immediately attended to the next customer.

Oh my God, she still didn’t ask me for my name…I just stood there again, I did not want to go disturb her for the 3^rd time…. Again thoughts flowing “There are so many beautiful women around.. Singapore has a lot of pretty faces… I am just one in the million…. How will her colleague know that I am the one"….. if you get caught in a foreign city without a ticket, you will go to jail.

Now what? I called my friend, but couldn’t get through…probably bad network...

So now, I just decided I’ll just get back…. As I reached the Station, I went to one of the security passes, my heart beating fast… Everyone’s using their card and lines are moving fast, and then, the security gate doesn’t permit me inside…..I notice people, one by one, they start  moving from behind me and going to other lines… oh my God “ I’m Scared….’… I can’t think.

And then.....

Comes the Lady with a big smile on her face, swipes her card and lets me in….

I'm amazed…. Singapore… Wow….That was really nice.. I"m impressed..... Very happy!!


I’ve been curious though… These questions have been playing on my mind....

1)      How did her colleague recognize me amongst the millions of pretty faces around…(She didn't have my name or Id Proof).  I was dressed casually… Jeans & a regular Top

2)      Does one trust someone at random at a foreign country just like I did… Are we supposed to just go with our Instincts which could be wrong at times

3)      If you don’t trust them, then aren’t  you going to be putting yourself through a difficult situation

Signing off.... Cheers!!