A Look in China Public Transportation System.

I had been outstation to China nearly about 2 weeks in Nov for office related work. By all means the only way I travelled around China was by using public transportations.

I’ll explain one by one, hands on experienced using their public transportations. To be more specific this experience is only referred to Shanghai city.

TAXI

Taxi is the most convenient way to travel especially for short distance. The taxi’s differs in quite number of colors which I don’t know what it's actually means (maybe different company it represents). The price of the taxi normally starts at RMB 11.00 (RM5.50) once u hops in. Then the price will increase based on km or minutes (similar to other part of the world). All taxi’s that I used followed the meter system. There is no fear or doubt about being cheated by taxi drivers due to this. I can see clearly how the meter runs & most of the prices were all the same from one taxi to another.

However, I experienced having communication problem with taxi drivers. They intend to misinterpreted what you say because they actually don’t know where u want to go & whatever you say. In most cases, I will ask the hotel reception to write in Chinese where I intend to go before boarding any taxis. This is actually a major issue to foreigners around the city when using this mode of public transportation.

Metro Subway System

The cheapest & fastest way to travel there is by using Metro train. Which in Malaysia we called it as "LRT" which cost you abot RMB 3.50. (RM1.60). For as low as RMB 4-5 I can travel from edge of the city line to another with quite numbers of stops. The subway have several link systems such as Yellow Subway, Green, Red & Blue. This subways in interconnected by several clash stations around the city. Unfortunately they don’t have a main station which have all the systems link together like KL Central. Anyway, this sub systems is nothing compared to Malaysian systems. In Malaysia our LRT systems mostly involve sub railway & highways. I must say, compared to view & tourism perspective ours is much better.

I easily adapted to the systems due to the signs & instructions were written clearly in bi-language (English & Chinese). The funniest experience I face was travelling during peak hours (around 4.00pm). A huge turnout of anxious people were eventually makes the train like sardines can (more or less like this). People been pushed in up to the limit. Some of the cases I can see clearly part of the people leaning next to the door having their cloth out side their door (someone stuck). This will happen to us if we didn’t to something about our transportation system in 5-10 year time.

MAGLEV

This was among the best public transportation I ever use. The price using this transportation was RMB 80 (RM40.00) for one way & RMB 150 (RM 75) for both ways. MAGLEV is a fast train using magnetic system. I don’t know how to explain this but this system uses magnetic field to float & move all the way from Shanghai city to the airport (on a magnetic rail track of course). Travelling by taxi’s from the city to airport normally takes around 1 to 1 ½ hours. But using the MAGLEV one just had to spend only 8 minutes in the train. Surprise isn’t it? Only 8 minutes. The maximum travel speed while I’m using it was 356km/hour which nearly the same as travel speed of an aeroplane.

I’m actually thrilled when I used the transportation. Having the fact it moves so fast just make me realise how the world have evolved so fast from gas train to this kind of train. WOW.

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There's a lot of idea's Malaysia can improve the public transportation system. Even in country like China have a quite impressive system which i dont ever imagine. Its time for us to take example of others countries system which we can adopt in Malaysia. Hill slope development, transportation system & medical systems are among things which we can try to follow or adopt.

Why not? Improve shall we?

Note: 100 RMB (Yuan) = RM 56.00

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What Singaporean Says .. Part 2

Well, still some more comment on Singapore. There's stuff that i want to highlight here just to share with other blogger. Especially comments by normal citizen's of Singapore. How they think about the their country, our country, our current politic situation & other stuff.

Its normal for me to have a chit-chat with Taxi Drivers during my stays overseas. Especially friendly ones. Just to make it simple let me highlighted some of the chat or opinion point normally occurs.

Malaysian Politics:-
-"So how's Anwar doing". "When will Anwar take over the government".
-"Opposition quite strong in Malaysia". "How can Malaysia allow racial statement been taken lightly, in Singapore u'll be in ISA if such comment took place."
From "Other perspective" its shows that most of the Singaporeans knows about recent politic development in Malaysia. Majority of them quite supportive to current situation of Malaysia but most of them says that the current check & balance between the government & opposition will benefit the people. However, most of them view politic development as unhealthy & some also view Malaysia Risk level increased.

Singapore Politics :-
- "Its such a loss to Opposition from the loss of JB Jeyaretnam."
- "Yes the government give u money before elections with all the good stuff etc2. However, after the election they take back from you double or triple on what u get in the 1st place".
- "The opposition actually have 40% vote by the people. However, due to the constituency or boundary of the electrol system been control by PAP they manage to get only 2 -3 seat in the Parliament".
- "Quite a lot of China citizen flocking to Singapore. Government policy of openness will hinders the working opportunity for local citizens."
- "JB Jeyaretnam was a fighter for the poor people of Singapore. He's been declared bankrupt 3 times even so he gets back on his feet to fight back. Hopefully more parliamentary will be won next election."
Other Perspective observation shows majority of the Singaporean view quite unhappy with current economics, political & freedom in Singapore. Most of them expressed view hoping a check & balance government & more policy to protect Singaporeans. More & more concern on economic wise.

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Singapore Taxi's...

Back & forth again. Been to the neighbouring country for work purposes. Well, there's several feeling when i across the border but this time through a taxi cab from Johor. I don't know why but everytime when i reach Singapore borders my feelings are different. Maybe due to the fact that during those Sept 11 i encountered a not very good Singapore entry experience. Uncertainty, not relaxed & insecure that's how i feel.

As usual my normal means of transportation were Taxi's. There's city cab, yellow cab & other small ones which i can't remember the names. Quite a lot though. Its really a lot. One of the drivers claimed that it reached 20,000-30,000 cabs throughout Singapore. A lot huh'. Well, how to they make profit by having such a numbers of cabs. The answer is they don't. They've been through hard times trying to make decent money. Why ? Let me list out some of the problems they're facing.

- Stiff competition between cab companies. (numbers too great)
- Tolls are everywhere. ERP, MTP etc (I'm not what the correct names is). These will hinders local users to used cabs due to the charges will be bourned by the riders. Imagine to use a short stretch of a road 1km in the town will cost u $1-$1.50 dollar dependent on entry time.
- Taxi driver do not own the car. They rent the car. The rent are estimated between $180-$250 Spore Dollar per day. It means the car must be on the road & earns more than that to gain something. Not to include fuel etc2.
- Most of the taxi driver works on shifts. Which is 12hours per shift. So it means that the taxi nearly works 24 7. That's the reason why taxi's will be scrap after 5 years.
- Other means of transportation is cheaper & faster. Locals tend to used other means of transportation due to this. So there's only left foreigners, high income people & tourist like myself using this mode of transportation.

In comparison, i will compare service of Singapore Taxi's Vs Malaysian Taxi's. These are the things which Malaysian taxi's may want to copy & used it in Malaysia. Or what i must say improvement.

- Prompt billing & meter used no matter what. Receipt is printed not sign by hard copy.
- Friendly ambient & helpful. One taxi driver come to the extend showing me the HDB apartment of my friends i visit.
- Will asked the passengers permission to used tolled route or whatever route. (This will be charged to passengers accordingly)
- Automatic surcharge will be imposed to passengers during peak hours or at night. But the surcharge will be known to passengers on the meter once u get in. Its not something they asked. Its a procedure or guideline they must follow.

I really hope that one day our taxi standards will be at par to Singapore taxi's. Why? Taxi's is actually as our tourist guide. Impression to them reflects impression to the country's image.

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What the Singaporean Says

I was in Singapore for few days for business purpose. Within that few days I've use 4 Taxi's for travelling purposes. Most of the time i will take that opportunity to let say talk a.k.a interview them regarding any issues.

Among the words that still in my mind are..

Taxi 1 (Airport-Hotel)
Fuel & Malaysia:-
- "Malaysian are being pampered to much, its about time malaysian government rid this subsidy. Only the rich people benefit with the subsidy"
- "Abdullah is not as smart as Mahathir. He is a burden to the country"
Opposition Singapore declare bankcrupt & Singapore story:-
- "Malaysia is lucky. At least they have strong opposition. In Singapore u will die if u become the opposition. Because the Lee family wont give you face. We also want opposition. But who can fight? , All declare bankcrupt. They will find fault in you untill u die."
- "I cannot say that Lee is smart. Its quite easy to manage Singapore because its small. Try let him rule state of Johor. It will be difficult for him."

Taxi2 (Hotel-Workplace)
Fuel :-
- "All political party is the same. Its a global effect nothing that malaysian government can do. Just that is it unpopular choice. What choice do they have. I think if the opposition rule also will be the same. Even here is also expensive. We taxi driver also dont dare to increase the price. We have to live with it or face the consequences.
Singapore Country:
-"Singapore is a Law country. Nobody fight. Or dare to fight because you might end up bankcrupt. No point. Just live with it".
-"Singapore is really smart. They always plans 10 year ahead. Do you know that fuel we bought 10 years in advance. It means that fuel now is actually the price purchase 10 years back.
Singapore plan 10 years in advance. In everything & anything."

Taxi 3 - (Workplace to Airport)
Fuel story :-
- "Why need subsidy, only the rich will use it largely. The poor does not benefit from it. Same like singapore.
Their opposition being declare bankrupt story :-
-"That guy is stupid. He know the government control everything why he try to fight. Its like throwing an egg to a rock. You cannot win. Even if u rich also will be declare bankcrupt if he tries to fight.
Singaporean & Government :-
-"Singaporean are very sellfish ppl. They dont care about others when they are rich. As long as they can live happily.
-"You are lucky to live in Malaysia. In singapore we work till we die. Example are like puchasing a apartment. You take loan for 30yrs for 200k apartment. And then after 20yrs the government will say that they want to demolish the house. At that time you still have money owing the goverment yet u need to buy a new house which wil cost you maybe 250k-300k.. You will end up living thru your entire life living to pay your debts. It never stops."
-"Taxi driver do not have EPF (i cant remember the term in singapore). So we need to really safe money"

Taxi 4 - (KLIA-House)
- "Itu demo tadak bagusla. Akan bg perspektif tak baik utk negara. Teksi effect jugak. Tapi itu naik minyak juga is to drastic. Mmg itu dunia harga minyak sudah naik. Ini teksi tak effect sgt. Sbb kita pakai NGV. Sekali isi penuh dalam 120km & RM 7-8.
Saya punya abg pun mau beli motor. Mmg org malaysia hidup mewah & senang. Jadi mmg terasa la itu minyak naik. Apa bole buat".
- "Sammy velu punya kawasan sebenarnya dia jaga betul2. Sudah ada university sudah ada kemajuan. Tapi dia silap. Dia ckp besar "Tentera turun pun takdak takut". Jadi semua org benci sama BN. Dia harap itu postal vote. Tapi semua tarak turun. Semua turun bangsar & Rembau. "
- "Kerajaan sama saja BN or PR. Itu janji2 pun tadak tunai. Rakyat pun bukan bodo. Boleh pikir." comments