Trained for Train

Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen.
How are you today? Surrounded by rain or showered by sunshine? Anyway, be alert and stay healthy. Don't forget to bring umbrella or raincoat. Weather sometimes does trick on you. But for this rainy season, we can almost be sure that it is going to rain.
But I am not going to talk about rain. Or even do a rain dance. No.
Well, maybe a little bit about rain in train. Do you know that rain can happen in a train? I experienced that. One day, I missed the Commuter Line to go home. The next train is KRL Ekonomi, which provides open windows and doors anytime, because there is no air conditioner. So, I took the train and after one station, it began to rain. I was standing up at that time, no vacant seat available. But hey, after the rain, people are starting to stand up too because the water blown by wind from the open windows and doors began to splash here and there, including the seats and floor. Some windows or doors could be closed, but mostly could not. I was feeling amazed. That was funny, sadly funny. There I was, inside the train, but soaking wet from head to toe. I should have opened my umbrella. Note: is it only in Indonesia?

Talking about train, it's like everyday I have a story to tell. I have told you some about the fake sleeping people, or the gadget mania. Today I am giving you the experience of powerful ladies (since mostly I take lady's coach). Getting in to the lady's coach is like surviving from evolution. But, it's not the one who can adapt to the environment wins or survives, it's more like the strong one will get the throne. That's why when I bring my Twinkle Little Star to work, I go to the opposite station first to get a good seat. Almost in every station there's a competition between the ladies to get the seats, or even to just stand up. Special case is in Tanah Abang. Be very careful, ladies. If your final destination is Tanah Abang, especially in rush hours, don't go out before the wave of passengers are getting in. Just sit down still, or you will get crushed, literally! Those ladies who are coming in, will run in full power into the train to get seat. They will push, tackle, and sit on you if you are coming on their way (okay, maybe I exaggerate, but you get my point). I ever saw an old lady collapsed because of the push, and no one seemed to care (I couldn't help with Twinkle Little Star on my arms). Some ladies will put their bags on the seat to get their friends a space. This sometimes makes other passenger who actually get in first could not sit down and they argue a little. The struggle to get a seat is bitter.

Two days ago, there was an empty space in front of me. When the train door opened, I saw two ladies were competing for that space. The first one actually had manage to put half of her body, but the second one bumped her really hard that she was pushed away and lose the seat. You really can see the look on her face was so sour plus annoyed and maybe a little bit angry. But, the second lady who got the seat didn't bother at all. Her face was flat cold. And she was immersed in her book, didn't care about the world. Meanwhile, the first lady still looked furious, you could see it because she looked at her few times with angry smile. Then I saw her getting her cellphone. I thought she was updating her status in social media about the incident or telling some friends about it.

Do you know that the fee for Commuter Line was raised from Rp 6.000 to Rp 8.000 since October 2012? They say it's for the improvement of service. Yeah, right!

Last Monday, I didn't really know what happened, but the train was really late. It was supposed to depart from Palmerah to Tanah Abang at 15.35, but it departed 16.05 with full passenger. It got overload when it arrived in Tanah Abang. So many people had already got in line. They were "fighting" to get in. Even men were entering the lady's coach, creating arguments and shout. The men refused to go out. They were afraid that there was no more train. It was so chaotic. At that time I just prayed that my Twinkle Little Star was not panic and acting up. In that full packed coach, the heat was on and the space was very limited. Thank God she was fine.

Ah, I remember something. I ever took my Twinkle Little Star on KRL ekonomi on the way home from office. Little did I know that it was full, not like when I took one another day. I was in the last coach, full with passengers, mostly men. They gave us a seat, but it was so crowded and hot. Worse thing was when we reached the destination, the last coach was not in the platform, so I had to squeeze between people to get to the next coach. I tell you, squeezing among passenger and vendors in the train was like trekking in the jungle. Moreover with the limited time before the train departed. I bumped people, I stepped on melon and goods the vendors selling. I even almost fell down. I was so concerned about my Twinkle Little Star, that she might get hit accidentally. When finally I was outside, I felt the great guilt. She looked a bit tense. I swore that I would never take her to this kind of train again, ever. I couldn't risk her safety.

Hey, what time is it? I have to prepare a meeting. Sorry, guys, I have to go now. I'll tell you other interesting story another time.
See you...!